Nutrition + digestive system Flashcards
What is the digestive system?
The digestive system is a group of organs, known as the alimentary canal or the gastrointestinal tract.
What is the function of the digestive system?
Digestion and Absorption
What are the 4 major stages of food processing?
Ingestion, digestion absorption/ assimilation and egestion
What is the Alimentary csnal made up of?
Oral cavity, pharynx,oesophagus,stomach,small intestines,large instentines,rectum and anus
What other organs help to digest food?
Liver,Gallbladder and pancreas
What are the digestive system stages?
Ingestion - food enters the digestive system (mouth)
Digestion - food is physically broken down into small pieces (mouth,stomach)
Chemical -digestive enzymes break food pieces into smaller, microscopic molecules(mouth,stomach,small intestines)
Absorption - water and digested food enter the bloodstream from the digestive system( food in the small intestines,water in the large intestines)
Excretion - Undigested food leaves the system in the form of faeces(anus)
What are the two types of digestion?
1 Mechanical or physical
2 Chemical