Science Test Biomolecules Flashcards
describe the characteristics of a “blue zone” that allow people who live there live longer and healthier lives than average
Natural Movement, Purpose In Life, Stress Reduction, 80% Rule, Plant based Diet, Moderate alcohol Consumption, Strong community, Prioritizing Family, and Belonging To the Right Tribe
Functions of mouth
Ingestion of food involves mechanical digestion through chewing by the teeth to break food into smaller pieces, while chemical digestion begins as salivary amylase in saliva breaks down starch into maltose.
Functions of oesophagus
The oesophagus transports food from the mouth to the stomach via peristalsis, with no digestion occurring in this section.
Functions of Stomach
The stomach stores and churns food into a semi-liquid called chyme, producing gastric juice with hydrochloric acid and enzymes like pepsin for protein digestion. The acid kills bacteria, while mucus protects the stomach lining from the acid.
Functions of small intestine (Duodenum & Ileum)
The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine, where digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver and gallbladder break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The ileum follows, where nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids are absorbed into the bloodstream, with villi and microvilli increasing surface area to enhance absorption.
Functions of Large Intestine (Colon, Rectum, Anus)
The colon absorbs water and minerals from undigested food, forming feces. The rectum stores feces before elimination, and the anus eliminates feces through defecation.
Functions of associated organs: Salivary Glands
The pancreas produces digestive enzymes (amylase, protease, lipase) and alkaline pancreatic juice to neutralize stomach acid in the small intestine.
Functions of associated organs: Pancreas
The pancreas produces digestive enzymes (amylase for carbohydrates, protease for proteins, lipase for fats) and alkaline pancreatic juice to neutralize stomach acid in the small intestine.
Functions of associated organs: Liver
The liver produces bile to emulsify fats, detoxifies harmful substances, and stores glycogen for energy.
Functions of associated organs: Gallbladder
Stores and releases bile into the duodenum when needed.
Describe Ingestion
Ingestion involves taking food into the mouth, where it is chewed (mechanical digestion) and mixed with saliva (beginning chemical digestion with amylase), then swallowed and moved down the oesophagus by peristalsis.
Describe Digestion
Digestion converts large, insoluble food molecules into smaller, soluble ones for absorption. Mechanical digestion includes chewing, churning, and peristalsis to break down food physically, while chemical digestion uses enzymes to break down carbohydrates into glucose, proteins into amino acids, and fats into fatty acids and glycerol.ile (from the liver) emulsifies fats for easier digestion.
Describe Absorption
Absorption mainly occurs in the small intestine (ileum), where villi and microvilli increase surface area for nutrient uptake. Glucose and amino acids enter blood capillaries, fatty acids and glycerol are absorbed into lacteals, and water is absorbed in the large intestine (colon).
Describe Assimilation
Absorbed nutrients are transported to body cells for energy, growth, and repair, with glucose used for respiration, amino acids for protein synthesis, and fats for storage or cell membranes. The liver regulates nutrients by storing excess glucose as glycogen and detoxifying harmful substances.
Describe Egestion
Undigested food forms feces, water is absorbed in the colon, and the feces are stored in the rectum before being expelled through the anus via defecation.
Describe the functions of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice, limited to killing harmful microorganisms in food and providing an acidic pH or optimum enzyme activity
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach creates a highly acidic environment (pH 1.5 – 2.0) that kills harmful microorganisms, preventing foodborne illnesses. It also provides the optimal pH for enzyme activity by activating pepsinogen into pepsin, which efficiently breaks down proteins into smaller peptides.
describe physical digestion as the breakdown of food into smaller pieces without chemical change to the food molecules
Physical digestion involves the mechanical breakdown of food into smaller pieces without changing its chemical structure. In the mouth, chewing and in the stomach, churning break down food and mix it with gastric juices, forming chyme. Peristalsis moves food along the digestive tract, while bile in the small intestine emulsifies fats to aid enzyme action and digestion.
Function of Incisors
Incisors are the flat, sharp teeth at the front of the mouth. Their primary function is to cut and slice food into smaller, manageable pieces.
Function of Canines
Canines are pointed teeth located next to the incisors. They are used for tearing and ripping food, especially meat.
Function of Premolars
Premolars are located behind the canines and have flat surfaces with ridges. These teeth help crush and grind food into smaller pieces.
Function of Molars
Molars are large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth with multiple cusps. They play a key role in grinding and crushing food, especially tougher, fibrous foods.
describe the function of the stomach in physical digestion
The stomach aids physical digestion by churning food and mixing it with gastric juices, breaking it down into smaller pieces and forming a semi-liquid called chyme. This process prepares food for further chemical digestion by enzymes and acids.
Describe chemical digestion as the break down of large insoluble molecules into small soluble molecules ( that is for the biomolecules from their polymers to their monomers)
Chemical digestion breaks down large, insoluble biomolecules into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed by the body. Enzymes like amylase break down carbohydrates into simple sugars, pepsin and trypsin break down proteins into amino acids, and lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. This process allows the body to absorb nutrients in their smaller, soluble forms.
state the role of chemical digestion in producing small soluble molecules that can be absorbed
The role of chemical digestion is to break down large, insoluble food molecules (such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) into smaller, soluble molecules (like simple sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids) that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and used by the body for energy, growth, and repair.
