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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the stomach in the digestive process?
What is the primary function of the stomach in the digestive process?
Where in the digestive system does most nutrient absorption occur?
Where in the digestive system does most nutrient absorption occur?
What structure in the small intestine helps with nutrient absorption?
What structure in the small intestine helps with nutrient absorption?
What happens to the waste products in the large intestine?
What happens to the waste products in the large intestine?
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Which substance in the stomach aids in breaking down food?
Which substance in the stomach aids in breaking down food?
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What is the primary purpose of mechanical digestion?
What is the primary purpose of mechanical digestion?
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How does food travel from the mouth to the stomach?
How does food travel from the mouth to the stomach?
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What role does saliva play in the mouth during digestion?
What role does saliva play in the mouth during digestion?
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What is peristalsis most similar to?
What is peristalsis most similar to?
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Which of the following describes a lab activity that modeled mechanical digestion?
Which of the following describes a lab activity that modeled mechanical digestion?
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Study Notes
Digestion
- Digestion breaks down food into smaller molecules the body can absorb and use.
- There are two types of digestion: mechanical and chemical.
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Mechanical Digestion physically breaks down food into smaller pieces.
- Examples: chewing, mashing, grinding food with teeth and tongue.
- Chemical Digestion involves chemical reactions that break down food into smaller molecules.
The Mouth
- Mechanical digestion starts in the mouth.
- Muscles in the jaw chew food.
- Saliva breaks down carbohydrates and neutralizes acidic foods before chewing.
The Esophagus
- After swallowing, food enters the esophagus.
- The esophagus connects the mouth to the stomach.
- It's a muscular tube and food moves through via muscle contractions called peristalsis.
Peristalsis
- Peristalsis means squeezing a tube of toothpaste with muscles.
- The muscles in the esophagus contract and relax, moving partially digested food down the esophagus and into the stomach.
The Stomach
- Partially digested food goes from the esophagus to the stomach.
- The stomach is a large, hollow organ that stores food temporarily and aids in chemical digestion.
- Gastric juice, an acidic fluid in the stomach, helps break down plant and animal cell structures.
The Small Intestine
- The small intestine is a long tube attached to the stomach.
- Most chemical digestion occurs here.
- Nutrient absorption also occurs in the small intestine.
- The folds of the small intestine are covered with villi.
- Each villus contains small blood vessels – nutrients enter the bloodstream through these vessels.
The Large Intestine
- Most water from food and liquid is absorbed in the small intestine.
- More water is absorbed in the large intestine.
- Waste products of digestion pass through the large intestine.
- Excess water is absorbed, creating more solid waste.
- Semisolid waste is eliminated from the body.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the process of digestion, including the roles of mechanical and chemical breakdown. Explore how food travels from the mouth to the stomach and the importance of peristalsis in digestion. This quiz covers the essential functions of the digestive system.
