Nutrition Flashcards
What is a heterotroph
Organisms that obtain nutrition from complex organic molecules
What are the two types of autotrophs
Chemoautotrophs and photoautotrophs
What is holozoic nutrition
Consume complex organic molecules and break them down in the gut with a specialised digestive system - includes nearly all animals
What is a saprophytes
Use dead organic material for their food, they carry out extra cellular digestion to obtain nutrition from dead organic matter that is from dead organisms and animal waste
What is an autotroph
Organisms that synthesise complex organic molecules from simple inorganic molecules using a source of energy
Plants are autotrophs
They convert co2 and water into glucose and oxygen using light energy during photosynthesis
Known as photo autotrophs as light is their source of energy
Bacteria are autotrophs
They obtain their energy from exergonic Chemical reactions called chemoautotrophs
Why must food be digested
Because the molecules are insoluble and too big to cross the membranes to be absorbed by the blood
Polymers so need to be converted to monkmkers so they can be rebuilt into molecules required by the body
How does food move along the gut
By peristalsis the involuntary contractions of the gut wall
What is ingestion
When food enters the most via the buccal cavity (mouth)
What is digestion
The breakdown of large insoluble molecules to small soluble molecules ready to be absorbed into the blood
What is mechanical digestion
Cutting and crushing of ingested food using teeth and peristalsis of the gut wall
What is chemical digestion
Secretion of digestive enzymes to convert large to small
What is absorption
The passage of small soluble molecules and ions through the gut wall into the blood
What is egestiob
The elimination of undivested material via the Anus
