Questions and Answers
What are the various steps involved in the process of digestion and absorption?
The steps involved in the process of digestion and absorption include ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion.
What are the main organs involved in the digestion and absorption of food?
The main organs involved in the digestion and absorption of food are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas.
How does the small intestine facilitate the absorption of digested food?
The small intestine facilitates the absorption of digested food through the presence of numerous finger-like projections called villi, which increase the surface area for absorption.
Study Notes
Digestion and Absorption Process
- The process of digestion and absorption involves ingestion, mechanical digestion, chemical digestion, absorption, and assimilation
- Ingestion: food enters the mouth, where it is chewed and mixed with saliva that contains the enzyme amylase
- Mechanical digestion: food is broken down into smaller pieces by teeth in the mouth and by muscular contractions in the stomach
- Chemical digestion:enzymes break down complex molecules into simpler ones in the mouth, stomach, and small intestine
- Absorption: nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine
- Assimilation: absorbed nutrients are utilized by the body's cells
Organs Involved in Digestion and Absorption
- Mouth: mechanical digestion by teeth and chemical digestion by salivary amylase
- Esophagus: food passage to the stomach
- Stomach: mechanical digestion by churning and chemical digestion by pepsin and gastric amylase
- Small intestine: chemical digestion by pancreatic juices and absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream
- Pancreas: produces pancreatic juices containing enzymes for chemical digestion
- Liver: produces bile that aids in fat digestion
- Gallbladder: stores and concentrates bile
- Large intestine: absorbs water and electrolytes, stores and eliminates waste
Small Intestine Function
- The small intestine facilitates absorption of digested food through its structure and functions:
- Large surface area due to villi and microvilli
- Enzymes and transport proteins in the intestinal epithelial cells
- Blood capillaries close to the epithelial cells for rapid uptake of absorbed nutrients
- Lacteals (lymphatic vessels) for absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins
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