The Digestive System
This organ is where digestion begins.
What is the mouth?
This enzyme in saliva begins the breakdown of starches.
What is amylase?
This is the process of chewing food in the mouth.
What is mastication?
The small intestine absorbs most of the nutrients and sends them to this body system.
What is the circulatory system?
This organ stores bile produced by the liver.
What is the gallbladder?
This muscular tube connects the mouth to the stomach.
What is the esophagus?
Bile, a greenish liquid that helps digest fats, is produced by this organ.
What is the liver?
This muscular movement pushes food through the esophagus and the rest of the digestive tract.
What is peristalsis?
These small, finger-like projections in the small intestine help increase surface area for absorption.
What are villi?
This organ produces insulin and digestive enzymes.
What is the pancreas?
Food is turned into this thick liquid after it leaves the stomach.
What is chyme?
This enzyme breaks down proteins in the stomach.
What is pepsin?
This is the name of the food mixture after it is chewed and mixed with saliva.
What is bolus?
Carbohydrates are broken down into these simple sugars for absorption.
What are glucose (or monosaccharides)?
This flap of tissue prevents food from entering the windpipe during swallowing.
What is the epiglottis?
This organ removes water from undigested food.
What is the large intestine (colon)?
This fluid, produced by the pancreas, contains digestive enzymes that help break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the small intestine.
What is pancreatic juice?
The stomach uses both chemical and __________ digestion to break down food.
What is mechanical?
Fats are broken down into these smaller molecules before they can be absorbed.
What are fatty acids and glycerol?
This sphincter prevents stomach acid from moving back up into the esophagus.
What is the cardiac sphincter?
This part of the small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption.
What is the jejunum
This substance is released by the stomach to help break down food and kill harmful bacteria.
What is hydrochloric acid (HCl)?
his muscular valve controls the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine.
What is the pyloric sphincter?
Proteins are broken down into these building blocks during digestion.
What are amino acids?
This organ absorbs water and electrolytes from undigested food, forming solid waste that is stored before elimination from the body.
What is the large intestine?