digestion
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach
- esophagas
- the physical breakdown of food. ex. chewing
- mechanical digestion
- like carbohydrates, fats are high-energy nutrients that are composed of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen
- fats
- is the last section of the digestive system. it is about one and a half meters long. it runs up the right-hand side of the abdomen, across the upper abdomen, and then down the left-hand side. the large intestine contains bacteria that feed on the material passing through.
- large intestine
- the large intestine ends in a short tube called the rectum. here waste material is eliminated from the body through the anus, a muscular opening at hte end of the rectum
- rectum
- the substances in food that give the raw materials and the energy needed by the body are called nutrients
- nutrients
- the amount of energy released by nutrients in the body is measured in units called calories.
- calories
- a flap of tissue that seals off the windpipe, preventing food from entering it.
- epiglottis
- a thick, slippery substance that makes food easier to swallow
- mucus
- needed for normal muscle and nerve function
- magnesium
- forms an important part of red blood cells
- iron
- nutrients that are not made by living things are called minerals
- minerals
- involuntary waves of muscle contraction that push food through the digestive system
- peristalsis
- the tiny finger shaped structures that cover the inner surface of the small intestine are called villi. nutrient molecules pass from the small intestine into the bloodstream through the villi.
- villi
- molecules that act as helpers in a variety of chemical reactions within the body
- vitamins
- undigested food is prepared for egestion. the excess water is absorbed.
- what happens in the large intestine.
- almost all chemical digestion and absorption of nutrients takes place in the small intestine. it is 6 meters long, it makes up 2/3 of the digestive system
- small intestine
- the largest and heaviest organ inside the body that is located in the upper part of the abdomen is the liver.
- liver
- mechanical-food gets chewed. chemical-starch>broken down into sugar.
- what happens in the mouth
- in chemical digestion, chemicals produced by the body break foods into their smaller chemical building blocks.
- chemical digestion
- helps form bones and teeth
- fluorine
- nutrients that contain nitrogen, as well as carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are called proteins
- proteins
- the process by which your body breaks down food into small nutrient molecules
- digestion
- chemical digestion-the proteins, fats, and starches are completely broken down and they are absorbed.
- what happens in the small intestine
- a triangular organ that lies between the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. like the liver, the pancreas plays a role in many body processes. as part of the digestive system, the pancrease produces enzymes that flow into the small intestine. these enzymes help break down the starches, proteins, and fats.
- pancreas
- mouth-esophagus-stomach-small intestine-large intestine
- the path of digestion
- mechanical digestion-the food is mixed with the digestive juice. chemical digestion-the proteins are broken down
- what happens in the stomach
- the most abundant substance in the body
- water
- no digestion occuring. the moistened food is swallowed and pushed down to the stomach
- what happens in the esophagus
- helps maintain water balance
- potassium