Human Digestive System

Question 1

Alimentary canal

Answer 1

A long tube running from the mouth to the anus, where digestion and absorption of food takes place

Question 2

Anus

Answer 2

The opening at the end of the digestive system from which faeces exit the body in egestion

Question 3

Appendix

Answer 3

A small sac located near the start of the large intestine

Question 4

Gall bladder

Answer 4

A small, sac-like organ that stores and releases bile (a digestive chemical which is produced in the liver) into the small intestine

Question 5

Large intestine

Answer 5

The long, wide tube that non-digested food goes through after passing through the small intestine

Question 6

Liver

Answer 6

A large organ/gland located above and in front of the stomach. It removes toxins from the blood and makes bile (which breaks down fats)

Question 7

Mouth

Answer 7

The first part of the digestive system, where food enters the body in ingestion. Chewing and salivary enzymes in the mouth are the beginning of the digestive process (breaking down the food)

Question 8

Oesophagus

Answer 8

The long tube between the mouth and the stomach. It uses rhythmic muscle movements (called peristalsis) to force food down the throat into the stomach

Question 9

Pancreas

Answer 9

An enzyme-producing gland located below the stomach and above the intestines. Enzymes from the pancreas help in the digestion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the small intestine

Question 10

Rectum

Answer 10

The lower part of the large intestine, where faeces are stored before they are egested from the body

Question 11

Small intestine

Answer 11

The long, thin winding tube that food goes through after it leaves the stomach; composed of the first part duodenum, second part Jejunum and third part ileum

Question 12

Stomach

Answer 12

A sack-like, muscular organ that is attached to the oesophagus. When food enters the stomach, it is churned in an acid bath

Question 13

Digestion

Answer 13

Digestion is the process in which relatively large, insoluble molecules in food (such as starch, proteins) are broken down into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and delivered to cells in the body. Digestion can be chemical or mechanical

Question 14

Ingestion

Answer 14

The act of taking food into the body through the mouth

Question 15

Mechanical digestion

Answer 15

The breakdown of large particles of food into small ones, by teeth and churning movements produced by muscles, without changing the food molecules. It increases the surface area of food so that enzymes can act more efficiently on it

Question 16

Chemical digestion

Answer 16

Conversion of large insoluble molecules into small soluble molecules by the action of enzymes

Question 17

Absorption

Answer 17

The movement of digested food molecules through the wall of the small intestine into the blood or lymph

Question 18

Assimilation

Answer 18

The movement of digested food molecules into the cells of the body where they are used, becoming part of the cells

Question 19

Egestion

Answer 19

The removal of indigestible material (faeces) from the body

Question 20

Peristalsis

Answer 20

A wave of muscular contractions and relaxations. The circular muscles of the wall behind the food contract squeezing/pushing the food along the alimentary canal

Question 21

Excretion

Answer 21

The removal of toxic metabolic waste from cells e.g. carbon dioxide, urea. Excretion IS a characteristic of life

Question 22

Egestion

Answer 22

Egestion is the removal of non digested food through the anus in the form of faeces. Egestion is NOT a characteristic of life