Digestive System Functions and Processes

What is the process of breaking down food into smaller particles called?

Which step in the digestive process involves the physical breakdown of food?

During which stage does the food bolus move from the pharynx to the esophagus?

What is the final step in the digestive process?

Which organs are primarily involved in the absorption of nutrients?

¿Cuál es el propósito de la insalivación en el proceso de la digestión?

¿Qué proceso ocurre inmediatamente después de la masticación de los alimentos?

¿Cuál de los siguientes describe mejor la digestión química?

¿Cuál de los siguientes pasos de la digestión ocurre primero?

¿Dónde se absorben principalmente los nutrientes en el sistema digestivo?

Digestive System Function and Structure

The digestive system is a group of organs that work together to break down food into nutrients the body can use.
Ingestion – food enters the mouth.
Mechanical digestion – chewing, churning, and mixing food to break it down. (e.g., mastication in mouth, churning in stomach)
Chemical digestion – using enzymes to break down food into smaller molecules. (e.g., saliva's amylase)
Digestion - breaking down food mechanically and chemically to release nutrients
Absorption - nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream
Excretion - waste products are eliminated from the body.

Digestive Processes

Ingestion: Food enters the mouth.
Deglutition: Food moves from the mouth to the esophagus.
Mechanical Digestion: Includes mastication (chewing) and churning in the stomach.
Chemical Digestion: Enzymes break down food (e.g., amylase in saliva, pepsin in stomach)

Types of Digestion

Mechanical digestion:
- Chewing (mastication): Breaking food into smaller pieces.
- Churning (mixing): Mixing food with digestive juices.
Chemical digestion:
- Enzymes: Proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body.
- Specific enzymes break down different nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Absorption

Absorption: Nutrients are taken from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.
This occurs mainly in the small intestine.
The walls of the small intestine have a large surface area to maximize absorption.

Excretion

Excretion: Waste products are eliminated from the body.
This occurs mainly through the large intestine and anus.

Explore the intricate functions and structure of the digestive system in this quiz. Learn about the stages of digestion, including ingestion, mechanical and chemical digestion, absorption, and excretion. Test your knowledge of how these processes work together to convert food into essential nutrients.