Digestive System I
The process of breaking down food into forms that the body can use.
Digestion
A hard covering that protects the teeth from the pressures of biting and chewing food
Enamel
A stretchy bag made of muscle that digests swallowed food.
Stomach
The savory taste found in foods like meat and cheese.
Umami
Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami
The system made up of the organs in the body that break down food
Digestive system
A special cluster of cells that react to chemicals in food
Taste bud
A mixture of digestive enzymes, water, and acid
Gastric juices
An organ that produces insulin and enzymes
Pancreas
How do the sense of smell and taste work together?
Taste buds on the tongue identify taste, and sensory cells in the nose identify smells.
Both taste and smell information are sent to the brain.
The brain combines the information to identify and appreciate flavors.
The opening where food enters the digestive system
Mouth
A small flap of tissue that covers the opening to the trachea.
Epiglottis
The part of the digestive system where nutrients from food pass through to the blood vessels
Small intestine
A green liquid that helps break down fats and helps the body absorb fats
Bile
The process of breaking down food into smaller pieces by grinding it.
Mechanical digestion
The clear liquid in the mouth that begins the digestive process makes food soft and wet
Saliva
The tube that connects the throat to the stomach.
Esophagus
The tiny, finger-like structures in the small intestine that take in nutrients.
Villi
A small organ that stores extra bile from the liver
Gallbladder
The process of breaking down food by using digestive enzymes
Chemical digestion
A substance that helps break down food
Digestive enzyme
A ring of muscles that controls an opening
Sphincter
The part of the digestive system that takes in water and salts
Large intestine
A large organ that filters blood, produces bile and absorbs fats.
Liver
Happens when the pancreas does not work well.
Diabetes