Organs
What are the main organs that make up the digestive system?
mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine
Why do fats decrease in number and fatty acids increase in the small intestine?
Due to the presence of the lipase enzyme fats are chemically changed into fatty acids.
What are epithelial cells? Where is one place they are found and what do they have in common with dialysis tubing?
They are the cells that line the microvilli and make up the membrane of the small intestine. Epithelial cells and dialysis tubing are both semi-permeable membranes.
What do villi, capillaries and alveoli have in common?
Each one is part of an organ. Each of these organs: small intestine (villi), veins (capillaries) and lungs (alveoli) have the same tree-like structure: large areas that branch off into tinier and tinier areas. These three parts are each the tiniest area of their organs and each serves the function of cell transport.
What is a percentile?
A percentile is a measurement used to tell us where one data point stands relative to all of the others. If I am in the 75th percentile for weight among people in my age group, that means 25% weight more than I do and 75% weigh less. If I am in the 60th percentile for a test score, that means that 40% of people got higher scores than I and 60% of people scored less than I.
Which food molecules get absorbed in the mouth?
none
How and where do complex carbohydrates turn into glucose?
In the mouth, stomach and small intestine.
Why does the small intestine need to be lined with a semi permeable membrane.
So that it can let in only food molecules small enough to be transported by the blood.
If fibre never gets absorbed why do you think it’s part of a healthy diet?
Fibre is the scrub brush of the large intestine. It helps prevents colon cancer. It is VERY important to eat fresh fruits and veggies to get your fibre.
Where do most foods get absorbed in the digestive system?
small intestine
How and where do proteins turn into amino acids?
This happens in the stomach and small intestine. Protein molecules turn into amino acid in the presence of the protease enzyme.
How do the respiratory system and circulatory system work together to bring food molecules and oxygen to cells in the body?
The oxygen is inhaled and makes its way to the alveoli. It is then transported through a semipermeable membrane into the capilaries which carry the blood to the veins and arteries which take the blood all around the body.
Why do we need a control when doing a lab? Give an example.
We need it in order to know whether the thing being tested (independent variable) is the thing that makes change happen. We used water in place of amylase in order to make sure that amylase was actually doing the work of converting complex carbs into glucose. We knew this because the chemical change didn't happen in the micro-centrifuge with water instead of amylase (which was the control).
What gets absorbed in the large intestine?
water, salt and a small amount of fats
What is a metabolic reaction? What are two that we studied?
Any chemical reaction in the body involved in turning food into energy. 2 that we studied are : large food molecules turning into smaller food molecules in the presence of an enzyme (or catalyst) and 'burning food'
Why is the small intestine lined in villi and microvilli?
The structure of the small intestine interior creates the maximum amount of surface area for food absorption. The villi line the wavy interior surface of the small intestine creating more surface area and the microvilli line the surface of the villi creating even more area.
Why do we need to breath?
We breath in order to inhale oxygen for a few reasons but mostly for cellular respiration. The body dies when the cells have no energy to live.
What is celiac’s disease and what did it do to M’Kenna?
Celiac's is an allergy to gluten which is a protein found in wheat. It results in the shrinking of the villi creating an insufficient amount of surface area for food to absorb in the small intestine. It made M'kenna have a host of symptoms linked to malnutrition (list some symptoms). The symptoms were not confined to the digestive system but affected many body systems.
What is cellular respiration and where does it happen in the body?
Cellular respiration is when food food and oxygen combine in the cell to create the byproducts: water, CO2 and energy. (The food gets 'burned' inside of each cell)
What is a catalyst?
A helper chemical that creates chemical change but does not become one of the reactants.