Nutrition in Animals Flashcards
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What nutrients are present in our food? What are their functions?
All living things need food to survive. Food contains nutrients which give us energy. help in the growth and repair of the body tissues. and keep us free from diseases.
Who was Alexis St. Martin and what did he contribute to the study of digestion?
He was a soldier who was shot in the stomach and survived. leaving a hole in his abdomen. An American doctor William Beaumont observed the inner workings of his stomach and found that the stomach dissolves food with help of fluids rather than grinding it mechanically.
What are the different processes involved in nutrition in animals?
They are ingestion. digestion. absorption. assimilation. and egestion.
What is ingestion?
The intake of food is called ingestion.
What is digestion?
The breakdown of food into simpler form with help of digestive juices is called digestion.
What is absorption?
The process in which soluble substances produced during digestion of food are absorbed by body tissues is called absorption.
What is assimilation?
The process of building complex substances using simple substances to get energy is called assimilation.
What is egestion?
The process of elimination of undigested food from body is called egestion.
What is the alimentary canal or digestive tract?
It is a long tube made up of several parts that starts from mouth and ends at anus. It is about 9-10m long in humans.
What are the parts of the human digestive system?
They are mouth. oesophagus (food pipe). stomach. small intestine. large intestine and anus.
What are the two parts of digestion?
They are mechanical and chemical digestion.
What is mechanical digestion?
It is the physical breakdown of food by chewing and churning of food (in the mouth).
What is chemical digestion?
It is the breaking down of complex substances into simpler forms (in the stomach) by enzymes secreted by different organs.
What is the role of the mouth or buccal cavity in nutrition?
It is the part where most animals including humans take food inside their body through a process called ingestion.
What are the parts of the human digestive system?
They are mouth. salivary glands. esophagus. liver. gall bladder. stomach. pancreas. large intestine. small intestine. rectum and anus.
How long does it take for food to travel through the digestive tract?
It can range from 50 to 70 hours depending on the type of food eaten.
What is saliva and where is it produced?
Saliva is a digestive juice produced by the salivary glands present in our mouth underneath the back of our tongue.
What is the process of breaking down food into smaller pieces by teeth called?
It is called mastication.
How many teeth does an adult human have?
An adult human has 32 teeth.
What are the different types of teeth and what are their functions?
The different types of teeth are incisors. canines. premolars. and molars. Incisors cut food into bite-sized pieces, canines are sharp and pointed for tearing food, premolars and molars grind the food.
What is the scientific term for tooth decay or cavities?
It is dental caries.
What causes dental caries?
It is caused by bacteria in the mouth creating acids that eat away the tooth.
What is plaque and where is it formed?
Plaque is a yellowish sticky substance formed by the reaction of food particles. especially sugar and carbohydrates. with bacteria and saliva. It is formed on and between teeth. both above and below the gum line.
What happens when plaque is not removed?
It destroys the enamel layer of teeth and develops into cavities which enlarge over time. It can also harden into tartar and lead to pyorrhoea. a disease characterized by shiny bright-red swollen gums that bleed easily.
Why is it important to brush teeth twice a day?
It is important to brush teeth twice a day to avoid dental issues such as dental caries. plaque. tartar. and pyorrhoea.
What is the process of digestion that starts in the mouth?
It is the process of chewing food and breaking it down into smaller pieces by teeth (mechanical digestion) and saliva (chemical digestion).
What is the role of saliva in chemical digestion?
Saliva contains an enzyme called amylase that converts carbohydrates into simple sugar particles.
What is an activity to observe the action of saliva on carbohydrates?
An activity is to chew a piece of bread and notice how it starts tasting sweet after some time.
What is the name of the organ that helps us detect different tastes?
It is the tongue.
What are the tiny bumps on the surface of the tongue called?
They are called taste buds.
How many kinds of taste buds are there and what are they?
There are four kinds of taste buds - salty. sweet. sour. and bitter.
What is the approximate amount of saliva produced by the body every day?
The body produces about one litre of saliva every day.
What is the main component of saliva?
Saliva is mainly composed of water (95 per cent).
What is the name of the flap-like structure that closes the opening of the windpipe while eating?
It is the epiglottis.
What is the name of the food pipe or the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach?
It is the oesophagus.
What is the name of the ball of food that is swallowed and reaches the oesophagus?
It is the bolus.
What is the name of the movement of muscles that pushes food down into the stomach?
It is peristalsis.
What are the two phases of peristalsis?
They are contraction and relaxation.
What is the shape and location of the stomach?
The stomach is a J-shaped structure located on the left side of the abdomen.
How long and wide is an average adult’s stomach?
An average adult’s stomach is about 12 inches long and 6 inches wide at its widest point.