Mammals as Consumers book 1 Flashcards
How is a mammal classified as a mammal?
-They all have 7 vertebrates -All have 4 chambered hearts -They use lungs to breathe -They are warm blooded -Their body is covered with fur or hair -They suckle their young on milk (main one)
What is nutrition necessary for?
Energy - necessary for all cells to function Growth - to make new cells (mitosis) Repair - to replace worn cells
What are the 7 food groups?
Carbohydrates Proteins Water Fiber Vitamins Minerals Fats
Why do we need carbohydrates?
Main source of energy Can be metabolised quickly
Why do we need proteins?
Builds and repairs tissue
Why do we need fats?
Stored as energy for later Acts as insulating layer
Why do we need vitamins?
Consumed in small amounts for normal bodily growth, development and function (ie vitamin C helps immune system)
Why do we need minerals?
Consumed in small amounts for body features (ie calcium necessary for bones)
Why do we need fiber?
So that food can pass through our digestive track
Why do we need water?
All chemical reactions in the body occur in water
What are the 5 processes of digestion?
Ingestion, Digestion, Absorption, Assimilation, Excretion
What is ingestion?
Putting food into the body
What is digestion?
The physical and chemical processes of breaking down large pieces of food into small soluble pieces
What is Absorption?
The process of small soluble food particles passing through the gut walls into the blood
What is Assimilation?
When the small soluble food particles absorbed into the blood are diffused into individual cells to provide nutrients for the cells to perform normal cellular functions
What is excretion?
When undigested food material is removed from the body through the anus
What is the purpose of the teeth in a nut shell
To break large pieces of food into small pieces of food to INCREASE SURFACE AREA for enzymes
What is the purpose of the the mouth?
- allows for food to be ingested into the body
- physicaly breaks down food as teeth break food down into smaller pieces
- chemical, salivary amylase is produced in the salivary glands breaking down starch into maltose
- saliva also contains mucin which moistens food so that is can go down the oesophagus easily
What is the pH of the mouth? Why is it that pH?
6.4-7.4, OPTIMAL pH for salivary amalyse
What are 4 main structures of the tooth?
Enamel, Dentine, Pulp cavity, cement
What does the enamel do?
It protects the teeth and creates a hard biting surface for chewing, contains high concentration of calcium phosphate making it the hardest substance in the body
what does the dentine do?
it give the tooth sensitivity to heat, acidity, pressure etc. because it is full of nerve endings
what does the pulp cavity do?
it provides nutrition to the dentine and links nerves to brain
what does the cement do?
The cement secures the tooth to the jawbone, covers the root of the tooth
What are the 4 types of teeth?
-Canines -Incisors -Premolars -Molars
What is the shape and function of the canines?
They are pointy and are designed to tear off chunks of flesh
What is the shape and function of the incisors?
They are broad faced and sharp and are used to slice food
What is the shape and function of the molars?
They are flat surfaced and are used to grind up food
What is the shape and function of the premolars?
They are pointy molars and are used to shred food
What are some features of a herbivore skull?
-well developed muscles for extensive chewing -side to side motion of jaw to crush and grind cellulose -large diastema to store more saliva so more salivary amylase digest more plant material -no canines as they don’t have to grab hold of flesh -wide flat molars to grind plant material
What are some features of a carnivore skull?
-reduced facial muscles as there is no extensive chewing -up and down motion of jaw to slice food -long sharp curved canines to grab hold of flesh and rip -premolars to slice meat
what causes dental decay?
when the teeth are subject to higher acidity conditions than usual, this is caused by eating high pH foods such as juice etc. and also bacteria excrete acid by consuming sugar on your teeth, they easily decay the enamel as it is mainly calcium phosphate, this exposes dentine
What does the oesophagus do?
Connects the mouth to the stomach, control the speed which food goes into the stomach by peristalsis (no digestion occurs here)
What is peristalsis?
it is when muscles behind the food push food through the digestive system (oesophagus, small intestine etc.)
How does the stomach digest food?
It mechanically digests food by contracting its thick muscluar wall to break down food TO INCREASE SURFACE AREA TO VOLUME RATIO, chemically breaks down proteins by breaking it down into peptides because of pepsin
What is in stomach juices, what do they do and what adaptations does the stomach have to handle it?
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) - increases the stomachs pH to a pH of 1-2, kill bacteria and other microbes on food that is ingested (pretty much cleans by killing microbes), has a mucus lining around gut wall that contains HCO3- ions that neutralise the acid, mucus lining also prevents HCl from burning stomach layer in first place Pepsin - digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins into peptides, doesn’t digest gut wall (has protein in it so it can be digested) as the pepsin has an OPTIMAL pH of 1-2 so when the HCl neutralises the pepsin, it becomes DENATURED and can’t digest proteins anymore protecting the gut wall
What produces stomach juices, where are they?
Gastric pits lined along the inside of the stomach wall
What kind of nutrients can the stomach absorb?
Nutrients that do not require digestion, ie alcohol
What chemical does the stomach produce that is necessary for production of red blood cell?
Intrinsic factor, needed for the absorbtion of B12
What and where are the sphincters located?
Cardiac sphincter - located at the top of the stomach, controls the influx of food from the oesophagus and controls the release of food back up the oesophagus Pyloric sphincter - located at the bottom of the stomach and controls the chyme that is released into the duodenum (bonus) Anal sphincter - controls the relase of faeces
What is a sphincter?
A ring of muscle