Digestive Organs
This is where digestion begins with chewing and salivary amylase is used.
Mouth
This substance in saliva starts breaking down starch.
Salivary amylase
Briefly explain mechanical digestion
the physical breakdown of large food pieces into smaller ones without altering their chemical composition in the mouth
Tiny structures that absorb nutrients in the small intestine.
Villi
This organ stores food and begins protein digestion.
Stomach
Choose the odd one out and why?
Mouth – Esophagus – Lung – Stomach
Lung
because its not a part of digestive system its a part of respiratory system
The stomach contains ______ acid.
Hydrochloric Acid
Name the movement that pushes food forward
Peristalsis
Where are most nutrients absorbed?
Small intestines
The esophagus digests food. (True/False) Why
False. It is a tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach
Which part of the digestive system has the largest surface area
small intestines
Why doesn’t the stomach digest itself?
Protective mucus lining
Digestion turns large, insoluble molecules into small, ______ ones
soluble
A person can digest food but still feels weak and undernourished. What might be the issue?
Poor absorption (villi problem)
Why is the small intestine longer than the large intestine?
More time/surface area is needed for digestion & absorption
A doctor removes a patient’s gallbladder. The patient can still digest food, but struggles with fatty meals. Why?
Bile is not released in controlled amounts, so fat digestion becomes less efficient
Why does pepsin only work in the stomach and not in the small intestine?
It requires acidic conditions, which are found in the stomach
Why does food move in one direction through the digestive system and not backward under normal conditions?
Because sphincters control movement and prevent backflow
Why is it important that nutrients are absorbed into the blood rather than directly used inside the intestine?
Because blood transports nutrients to all body cells
A scientist removes all enzymes from a digestive system model. What would still happen, and what would not happen?
Mechanical breakdown would still occur, but chemical digestion would not
Why is the pancreas considered both a digestive and endocrine organ?
Produces both enzymes AND hormones (insulin)
If stomach pH becomes less acidic, what happens to protein digestion?
Becomes less effective because pepsin not activated
If bile is missing, what process will not take place, explain the process
Emulsification process. The process where bile salts break large fat particles into tiny droplets in the small intestine
A patient’s digestion produces glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids normally, but these substances are later found in the intestine waste. What does this tell you about the problem?
Absorption is not occurring properly, so nutrients are not entering the bloodstream
Why can a person survive without a stomach for a while but not without a small intestine?
Because digestion can occur elsewhere, but nutrient absorption (needed for survival) mainly happens in the small intestine