Functions & Processes
What is the main function of the digestive system?
To break down and absorb food into the bloodstream.
Which nutrient is primarily found in rice and bread?
Complex carbohydrates (starch).
Which organ produces bile?
Liver.
In the mouth, how is mechanical digestion achieved?
The teeth grind food against other teeth.
Minerals are:
Inorganic molecules required by the human body in small amounts.
What is peristalsis?
The movement of food along the digestive tract via muscular contractions.
What is the role of enzymes in digestion?
To speed up the breakdown of food.
Which organ stores bile?
Gallbladder.
What is the role of amylase in digestion?
Breaks down starches into sugars.
What happens to enzymes at extremely high temperatures?
They denature and lose their function.
Where does most nutrient absorption occur?
Small intestine.
Which enzyme breaks down proteins into amino acids?
Protease.
Which part of the digestive system is primarily responsible for water absorption?
Large intestine.
How does mechanical digestion differ from chemical digestion when consuming a steak?
Mechanical digestion involves physically breaking down the steak into smaller pieces (e.g., chewing), while chemical digestion involves breaking down proteins into amino acids using enzymes like protease.
Where do nutrients go immediately after being absorbed by the small intestine?
Into the bloodstream.
What is the role of the epiglottis during swallowing?
Prevents food from entering the lungs/windpipe.
Vitamin C is found in high levels in which foods?
Citrus fruits.
Name the muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.
Esophagus.
What substance does the stomach lining's mucus protect against?
Hydrochloric acid.
What is the dependent variable in an experiment measuring enzyme activity at different temperatures?
The amount of simple sugar produced.
How does the stomach protect itself from its own acid?
The stomach lining has a coating of mucus to protect it from hydrochloric acid.
Why are enzymes described as being very specific?
Each enzyme has an active site that fits only specific substrates, ensuring precise biochemical reactions.
Which of the following is NOT part of the digestive system: tongue, kidneys, gallbladder, or small intestine?
Kidneys.
Describe the process that moves food through the digestive tract.
Peristalsis, which involves wave-like muscular contractions.
What is the role of the pancreas in digestion, and how does it contribute to the breakdown of food in the small intestine?
The pancreas produces digestive enzymes (such as amylase, lipase, and proteases)