The Digestive System

Question 1

what is the function of the appendix?

Answer 1

part of the large intestine - no known use.

Question 2

what is the function of the liver?

Answer 2

this organ produces bile which is used to break down large fat globules into smaller droplets.

Question 3

what is the function of the stomach?

Answer 3

this organ contains hydrochloric acid to kill bacteria and also contains the enzyme pepsin to digest protein.

Question 4

what is the function of the mouth?

Answer 4

food broken down into small pieces by teeth - increases surface area.
mixed with saliva that contains amylase which digests starch.

Question 5

what is the function of the oesophagus?

Answer 5

carries food to the stomach by waves of muscle contractions called peristalsis.

Question 6

what is the duodenum?

Answer 6

the first part of the small intestine

Question 7

what is the function of the duodenum?

Answer 7

In the duodenum enzymes from the pancreas mix with the food. These enzymes include, amylase, protease and lipase to digest starch, protein and lipids.

Question 8

what is the alimentary canal?

Answer 8

the gut from the mouth to the anus.

Question 9

what us the ileum?

Answer 9

the second part of the small intestine.

Question 10

what is the function of the ileum?

Answer 10

the walls of the ileum make enzymes - maltase, protease and lipase.
Products of digestion (small soluble food molecules) are absorbed across the wall of the ileum into the blood.

Question 11

what makes up the large intestine?

Answer 11

the colon and the rectum

Question 12

what is the function of the colon?

Answer 12

colon absorbs water from the undigested food to produce faeces.

Question 13

what is the function of the rectum?

Answer 13

at the end of the colon - this is where faeces is compacted and pushed out of the anus by egestion.

Question 14

where is bile made?

Answer 14

the liver

Question 15

where is bile stored?

Answer 15

gall bladder

Question 16

what is the function of bile?

Answer 16

Bile always emulsifies fats- breaks them into smaller droplets, with a greater surface area. This speeds up digestion of lipids by lipase.

Question 17

where does bile move to?

Answer 17

bile moves down the bile duct into the duodenum

Question 18

why is bile alkaline?

Answer 18

Bile is alkaline so it neutralises the acid coming from the stomach.

Question 19

how does the length (5mm) of the ileum help absorption?

Answer 19

this gives plenty of time for digestion to be completed, and for digested food to be absorbed as it passes through.

Question 20

how does the cells in each villus help absorption in the ileum?

Answer 20

Each villus is covered in cells which have smaller projections on them called microvilli. This gives the inner of the small intestine a very large surface area. The larger the surface area, the faster the food can be absorbed.

Question 21

how does the blood capillaries in the villi help absorption?

Answer 21

digested food passes into the blood to be taken to the liver and then round the body.

Question 22

how do lacteals in the villi help absorption?

Answer 22

Villi contain lacteals which are part of the lymphatic system. Fats are absorbed into the lacteals.

Question 23

how does the thickness of the walls of the villi help absorption?

Answer 23

The walls of the villi are only 1 cell thick so the digested food can easily cross the wall to reach the blood capillaries and lacteals.