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Digestion
The digestive process
Question | Answer |
---|---|
digestion | The process by which your body breaks down food into small nutrient molecules. |
absorption | The process by which nutrient molecules pass through the wall of your digestive system into your blood. |
saliva | fluid released when your mouth waters.Plays an important role in mechanical and chemical digestion. |
mechanical digestion | The breaking down of food into small parts using the teeth or the muscles of the stomach. |
chemical digestion | The breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones using enzymes. |
enzyme | A protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body. |
esophagus | A muscular tube that is lined with smooth muscle and connects the mouth to the stomach. |
epiglottis | A flap of tissue that seals off the windpipe to prevent food from entering. |
mucus | Mucus is a thick slippery substance produced by the body. |
peristalsis | The involuntary waves of muscle contractions. |
stomach | A j-shaped, muscular pouch located in the abdomen. |
pepsin | This digestive juice chemically breaks down proteins in your food. |
hydrochloric acid | A very strong acid. |
small intestine | the part of the digestive system where most chemical digestion and absorption of nutrients takes place. |
liver | The largest and heaviest organ in the body. Produces bile. |
bile | A substance that breaks up fat particles. |
gallbladder | An organ that stores bile. |
pancreas | Produces enzymes that flow into the small intestine. They break up starches, proteins and fats. |
villi | finger like structures that cover the lining of the small intestine and increase the surface area of the intestines, aiding in absorption of nutrients. |
large intestine | water is absorbed into the bloodstream and waste is readied for elimination. |
rectum | the end of the large intestine and compressed and into a solid form. |
anus | The muscular opening at the end of the rectum. |