The Digestive System

Question 1

Digestion

Answer 1

Breakdown of food into a form that can be used by an animal. It includes both mechanical digestion and chemical digestion.

Question 2

Mechanical digestion

Answer 2

Digestion that uses physical factors such as chewing with the teeth.

Question 3

Chemical digestion

Answer 3

The chemical reactions changing food into simpler substances that are absorbed into the bloodstream for use in other parts of the body.

Question 4

Alimentary canal

Answer 4

Passage from the mouth to the anus. Digestion of food occurs as it moves through the canal.

Question 5

Enzymes

Answer 5

Special chemicals that speed up reactions but are themselves not used up in the reaction.

Question 6

Saliva

Answer 6

Watery substance in the mouth that moistens food before swallowing.

Question 7

Salivary glands

Answer 7

Glands in the mouth that produce saliva.

Question 8

Bolus

Answer 8

Round, chewed-up ball of food made in the mouth that makes swallowing easier.

Question 9

Oesophagus

Answer 9

Part of the digestive system composed of a tube connecting the mouth with the stomach.

Question 10

Peristalsis

Answer 10

The process of pushing food along the oesophagus or small intestine by the action of muscles.

Question 11

Stomach

Answer 11

A large muscular organ that churns and mixes food with gastric juice to start to break down protein.

Question 12

Small intestine

Answer 12

The part of the digestive system between the stomach and large intestine, where much of the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients take place.

Question 13

Absorption

Answer 13

The taking in of a substance, for example from the intestine to the surrounding capillaries.

Question 14

Villi

Answer 14

Tiny finger-like projections from the wall of the intestine that maximise the surface area of the structure to increase the efficiency of nutrient absorption.

Question 15

Nutrient

Answer 15

Substances that provide energy and chemicals that living things need to stay alive, grow and reproduce.

Question 16

Bile

Answer 16

A substance produced by the liver that helps digest fats and oils.

Question 17

Gall bladder

Answer 17

A small organ that stores and concentrates bile within the body.

Question 18

Lipids

Answer 18

Type of nutrients that include fats and oils

Question 19

Lipase

Answer 19

Enzymes that break fats and oils down into fatty acids and glycerol.

Question 20

Amylases

Answer 20

An enzyme in saliva that breaks starch down into sugar.

Question 21

Proteases

Answer 21

Enzymes that break proteins down into amino acids.

Question 22

Pancreas

Answer 22

A large gland in the body that produces and secretes the hormone insulin and an important digestive fluid containing enzymes.

Question 23

Colon

Answer 23

A part of the large intestine where a food mass passes from the small intestine, and where water and other remaining essential nutrients are absorbed into the body.

Question 24

Large intestine

Answer 24

The penultimate part of the digestive system, where water is absorbed from the waste before it is transported out of the body.

Question 25

Vitamin D

Answer 25

A nutrient that regulates the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the bloodstream and promotes the healthy growth and remodelling of bone.

Question 26

Cellulose

Answer 26

A natural substance that keeps the cell wall of plants rigid.

Question 27

Rectum

Answer 27

The final section of the digestive system, where waste food matter is stored as faeces before being excreted through the anus.

Question 28

Anus

Answer 28

Final part of the digestive system, through which faeces are used as waste.

Question 29

Emulsify

Answer 29

Combine two liquids that do not normally mix easily.

Question 30

Denatured

Answer 30

Describes the condition of proteins after they have been overheated.

Question 31

Substrate

Answer 31

Substance acted upon by an enzyme.

Question 32

Product

Answer 32

New chemical substance that results from a chemical reaction.

Question 33

Epiglottis

Answer 33

A part in the oesophagus that blocks off the trachea so that food doesn’t go into the respiratory system.

Question 34

Incisors

Answer 34

Like scissors, used for biting and cutting food. Front of mouth.

Question 35

Canines

Answer 35

Fang-like, tear and grasp food. Used for ripping and tearing meat.

Question 36

Premolars and Molars

Answer 36

Molars are found further back than premolars. Molars have between 3 and 5 cusps, whereas premolars have 2. Used for grinding and crushing food.

Question 37

Which digestive reaction does amylase speed up?

Answer 37

Starch into Sugar

Question 38

Nutrients that are absorbed by villi in the small intestine.

Answer 38

Glucose and Fatty acids

Question 39

Singular form of villi

Answer 39

Villus

Question 40

Chyme is the mixture of substances in the stomach, and is made up of…

Answer 40

Food, Hydrochloric acid, enzymes

Question 41

What part of digestion occurs in the stomach?

Answer 41

Digestion by acids, and crushing

Question 42

What do the hormones released by the small intestine the pancreas do?

Answer 42

Release digestive enzymes into the duodenum

Question 43

Which food group does the digestive enzyme amylase act on?

Answer 43

Carbohydrates

Question 44

Which food group does the digestive enzyme lipase act on?

Answer 44

Fats.