The Digestive System (Body Focus) Carol Ballard- Part 1

Question 1

1. Why are only able to make use of food after we have digested it?
2. Why do we need to eat food to ensure we live?

Answer 1

1. Digesting food breaks it down into smaller soluble molecules so it can be absorbed into the bloodstream and be transported to parts of the body where it is needed fast and efficiently.
2. Eating food gives us energy and building blocks for growth and repair.

Question 2

What is the alimentary canal?

Answer 2

The alimentary canal is part of the digestive system and is a continuous hollow tube that runs from the mouth to the anus. It also passes through other organs.

Question 3

Describe the movement of food through the body.

Answer 3

> Mouth.
Enters oesophagus.
Enters stomach where digestive juices break it down even more.
Enters the small intestine where digested food goes back into bloodstream.
Waste now enters large intestine, where water is absorbed back into bloodstream, making waste (faeces) more drier and solid.
Faeces leaves the body via anus.

Question 4

1. What is the role of the liver ?
2. What is the role of the kidneys ?
3. What is the role of the bladder ?

Answer 4

1. Liver regulates sugar levels and other chemicals in the blood.
2. Kidneys cleans the blood, by filtering out any waste chemicals and excess water.
3. Bladder holds waste liquid waste (urine) which leaves the body through a narrow tube called the urethra.

Question 5

What is physical digestion?

Answer 5

When food is broken down into smaller pieces by your teeth and tongue. Food is also broken down by your muscles and pushed down the alimentary canal.

Question 6

What is chemical digestion?

Answer 6

When enzymes and other chemicals break down food, which happens at various stages in the digestive system, such as the enzymes in the saliva in your mouth. This is easy and fast as food is already broken down by physical digestion.

Question 7

An important part of our diet is carbohydrates.
1. Give examples of food containing carbohydrates.
2. What are unrefined carbohydrates ?
3. What are refined carbohydrates?
4. How do we use carbohydrates in our body?

Answer 7

1. Bread, pasta, rice, flour and cereals.
2. Unrefined carbohydrates, like wholemeal cereals and
   flours, contains fibres. Fibres helps the digestive
   system to work properly.
3. Refined carbohydrates includes white flour and
   white sugar, which contained little or no fibres.
4. We use carbohydrates as a source and store of
   energy in our body.

Question 8

Vegetables are also an essential part of our diet.
1. What does vegetables provide our body with?
2. Why is vitamin A needed in our body?
3. Why is iron needed in our body?
4. Fibre is also found in vegetables. How is this helpful for the body?

Answer 8

1. Vegetables provides our body with vitamins and minerals to maintain good health.
2. Vitamin A is needed for healthy skin and hair.
3. Iron (a prosthetic group) attaches to the haemoglobin in red blood cells to carry oxygen efficiently around the body.
4. Fibre is the cellulose material that plant cells are made of. We are not able to digest this, so it adds bulk to the faeces and makes them softer, helping it pass out of the body more quickly. Lack of fibre in our diet can lead to bowel problems.

Question 9

How does eating fruits help with our body?

Answer 9

Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C which aids with the immune system. Fruits also contain fibre.

Question 10

Dairy products are an important part of our body.
1. Give examples of dairy products.
2. Once digested, how do we use dairy products in our body?
3. What do dairy products also supply us with?

Answer 10

1. Milk, yoghurt, butter and cheese.
2. Dairy products are rich in fats which we can use for energy.
3. Dairy products are good sources of calcium, vitamins and proteins.