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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. |