nutrition in humans Flashcards
what is nutrition
it is the process by which organisms obtain food and evergy for growth, repair and maintenance of the body
what are the processed involved in nutrition
ingestion->digestion->absoption->assimilation->egestion
what is ingestion
it is the intake of food into our body via the mouth
what is digestion
it is the process whereby large food molecules are broken down into small, simpler, soluble, diffusible molecules that can be absorbed into the body
why must food be digested
the food we ingest are made up of large food molecules that cannot pass through the partially permeable cell membrane of the walls of the intestine and into the blood vessels. Food must then be digested to break down the large food molecules into smaller, simpler, soluble, and diffusible molecules that can pass thorugh the walls of the intestine and into the blood vessel. Blood can then transport the simple food molecule to other parts of the body to be used for various processes
whats the difference between physical digestion and chemical digestion
physical digestion is the process of breaking up food into smaller pieces (chewing and peristalsis). However, chemical digestion is the hydrolysing/ breaking down of food into simpler molecules via enzyme action
what organs make up the digestive system
alimentary canal: mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, anus
organ associated with it: gall bladder, pancreas, liver
what is the function of the teeth
it grinds and break up solid food into smaller pieces by mastication to provide a larger surface area for enzyme action (mechenical digestion)
where does digestion begin
digestion begins in the mouth by the teeth, salivary glands, tongue
the mouth carry out both, chemical and physical digestion
teeth breaks food molecules into smaller pieces + saliva which contain amylase= maltose
what is the function of the salivary glands
(chemical digestion) it secretes saliva which contain:
- mucin: dilutes and moistens the food
- bicarbonate ions: buffer the saliva and maintain pH 6.5-7.5
- salivary amylase: digest starch to maltose
what is the function of the tongue
rolls food particles into boli which are swallowed via the pharynx into the oesophagus
what is the structure and function of the pharynx
- it is a common passage way for air and food.
- during swallowing, food is prevented from entering the trachea by the epiglotties
- the epiglotties is a flap like cartilage just above the larynx (voice box)
- when food gets into the trachea, the person will cough the food out
- during breathing, air passes into the trachea, the larynx moves downwards and the glottis is open
- during swallowing, the larynx moves upwards and the epiglotties overs the glotties, preventing the food particles to enter the trachea
what is the structure of the oesophagus
- narrow, muscular tube
- continues from the pharynx to the stomach
- the wall consist of four layers: serous coat, smooth muscles, submucous coat, mucose coat
what is the function of the oesophagus
the oesophagus transport food from the pharynx to the stomach via: gravity, peristalsis
what is peristalsis
- peristalsis is the rhythmic, wave-like muscular contractions in the wall of the alimentary canal
- it helps the movement of food along the gut
- it enables food to be mixed with digestive juices
- peristalsis is caused by the actions of the circular and longtitudinal mucsles (antagonistic mucsles)
what is the structure of a stomach
- distensible muscular bag
- at the end of the stomach, there is a muscular valve called pyloric sphincter:
contracts: food cannot enter the stomach
relaxes: food enters small intestine - muscous coat of the stomach walls bears many pits called gastric pits which secretes gasric juice
what are the functions of the stomach
- protein digestion begins in the stomach
- protein digestionin the stomach requires the gastric juice
- food in the stomach stimulates the gastric glands to secrete gastric juice
- gastric juice is the dilute solution of: hydrochloric acid, pepsin, rennin
- the stomach also serve to store food tempoarily (3-4 hours)
- peristalsis in the stomach help to mix and churn food in the stomach
- partly digested food becomes liquified to form chyme
- chyme enters the duodenum (in small amounts) when the phyloric sphincter relaxes
what is the function of dilute hydrochloric acid
-stops the action of salivary amylase cause of the different pH values
- converts inactive form of gastric enzymes to the active form:
pepsinogen (inactive) —– HCI———> pepsin (active)
prorennin (inactive) ——-HCI———-> rennin (active)
- provides a sligtly acidic medium for the action of the gastric enzymes
- kills germs and certani potential parasites
what is the function of pepsin
- pepsin is a protease which digest proteins to polypeptides
pepsinogen ——-HCI——> pepsin
proteins ——-pepsin—–> polypeptides
pepsin does not digest proteins to amino acids!!