the digestive system

Question 1

the process of digestion / mouth

Answer 1

digestion begins in the mouth with mechanical digestion. salivary glands secrete saliva into the mouth to begin the chemical breakdown of starch as it contains an enzyme called amylase.

Question 2

the process of digestion / oesophagus

Answer 2

the oesophagus is the tube that joins the mouth to the stomach, peristalsis is the process by which the muscles of the oesophagus contract in order to move food along the digestive track.

Question 3

the process of digestion / stomach

Answer 3

• storage of food
• disinfection of food, whereby hydrochloric acids kills bacteria.
• a fluid known as chyme is released resulting from the mixing and churning of food with gastric juices.
• chemical digestion begins, acid activates protein digesting enzymes, pepsin is released to breakdown protein .
• when each function is complete, the stomach empties it’s contents into the small intestine (duodenum).

Question 4

the process of digestion / liver

Answer 4

the liver produces bile, which is stored in the gall bladder, it is discharged into the duodenum upon eating and contains enzymes which break up fats and emulsify them.

Question 5

the process of digestion / pancreas

Answer 5

produces an enzyme known as protease, which assists in the digestion of protein, starch and fat. Pancreatic secretions neutralise stomach acids.

Question 6

the process of digestion / the small intestine

Answer 6

approximately 6 metres long, most digestion and absorption occurs here. The duodenum links the stomach to the small intestine.

gall bladder, liver and pancreas release bile and enzymes to complete the chemical breakdown of acidic stomach contents

• trypsin converts protein to amino acids
• amylase breaks down starch
• lipase converts fats to fatty acids or glycerol.

Question 7

the process of digestion / jejunum and ileum

Answer 7

where majority of the absorption of nutrients occurs. the lining of the small intestine contains villi, each villus is connected to a mesh of capillaries, this is how nutrients pass into the blood stream.

Question 8

the process of digestion / the large intestine

Answer 8

main function is to absorb water and remove food residue and waste from the body, residue make include insoluble fibre, cellulose, digestive juices and bacteria.

Question 9

the process of digestion / rectum

Answer 9

eliminate faeces 12-24 hours after eating