Humans
What is the role of the colon (large intestine)
In the large intestine, water is absorbed, solidifying the wastes, forming faeces.
What is the key role of the omasum?
Key role is the absorption of water
What enzymes are present in the small intestine (duodenum)
Amylase, lipase, trypsin
What nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine? What adaptation is present in the small intestine that allows for efficient absorption?
Amino acids, glucose, fatty acids
Villi + microvilli
If cows only eat grass, how do they gain their source of protein?
The microorganisms feed off of the grass and then the microorganisms are digested and absorbed by the cow as a source of protein
What enzymes do the microorganisms in cows produce? What is its job?
Cellulase: breaks down cellulose
Gastric juices’ (stomach juices) contain what?
Three things
Hydrochloric acid
Enzyme: pepsin
Mucus
How many chambers does the cow stomach have? What is present in the rumen?
Four
Microorganisms are able to survive in the rumen.
What enzyme is located in the stomach and what is its job?
Pepsin
Breaks down protein into amino acids
Describe the importance of both mechanical digestion and chemical digestion
Mechanical digestion breaks up the food into smaller pieces with a larger surface area.
This allows chemical digestion to be more efficient so that enzymes can break down substrates into products able to be absorbed into the blood / lymph.
Describe what a diastema is. What is the advantage of this adaptation?
A gap between the incisors and molars. Allows space for the food to be manipulated by the tongue
Where is amylase located and what is its job?
Mouth/saliva
Breaks down starch into glucose (maltose)
State and describe the three types of teeth present in humans?
Incisors - Chisel-like teeth found at the front of the jaw. They are used for cutting and biting or tearing food from its source.
Canines - Pointed teeth, used to rip and tear flesh from bones. Also may be used for holding onto or piercing living prey.
Molars - Numerous, large, flat-surfaced teeth found towards the rear of jaw; blunt in herbivores, pointed in carnivores. Used to chew, crush and grind food.
What is the first stage of nutrition in cows?
Describe how this stage is different than humans.
Ingestion: swallows food whole (quickly)
Uses tongue and incisors to slice grass then swallow it whole into the rumen. Humans spend time chewing food (mechanically digesting it) before swallowing
Describe the function of an enzyme for digestion.
Include an example of an enzyme.
Naturally occurring digestive enzymes are proteins that your body makes to break down food and aid digestion.
Specifically, enzymes break down a specific substrate into a nutrient product that is easily absorbed into the body's cells e.g. amylase in the saliva breaks down starches into smaller sugars (glucose).