Digestive System Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is primarily absorbed in the small intestine?

Nutrients (correct)

Water

Vitamins

Fiber

The liver produces bile to aid in the digestion of carbohydrates.

False

What connects the pharynx to the stomach?

oesophagus

The __________ in the stomach helps to prevent backflow of food.

pyloric sphincter Signup and view all the answers

Match the following organs to their functions:

Liver = Produces bile Gall bladder = Stores bile Pancreas = Produces digestive enzymes Large Intestine = Absorbs water and eliminates waste Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of the stomach?

Absorbs nutrients Signup and view all the answers

Villi increase the surface area of the small intestine for absorption.

True Signup and view all the answers

What role does hydrochloric acid play in the stomach?

Neutralizes bacteria and activates pepsin Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the liver in digestion?

Produce bile Signup and view all the answers

The large intestine is about 1.5 meters long.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of amylase?

To break down starch into sugars Signup and view all the answers

The _______ prevents backflow in the stomach.

pyloric sphincter Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of teeth with their main function:

Incisors = Cutting food Canines = Tearing food Molars = Grinding food Premolars = Crushing food Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of bile in digestion?

Emulsify fats Signup and view all the answers

Omnivores possess only sharp teeth for their diet.

False Signup and view all the answers

What are the three parts of the small intestine?

Duodenum, jejunum, ileum Signup and view all the answers

Saliva contains _______ that begins the digestive process.

amylase Signup and view all the answers

How many teeth does an adult human typically have?

32 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Essential for Human Survival

Human survival depends on proper nutrition

Digestive System Overview

Changes food into usable substances by the body
The alimentary canal is a tube from mouth to anus
Organs/glands add juices along the canal
Two types of digestion: mechanical (breaking down into smaller pieces) and chemical (breaking into absorbable substances)

Mouth

Initiates digestion mechanically (chewing)
Saliva contains enzymes (e.g., amylase for digesting starch)

Esophagus

Carries chewed food from the pharynx to the stomach using muscular contractions

Stomach

Holds, churns, and chemically digests food
Inner lining has folds for expansion
Contains gastric juices with hydrochloric acid which kills bacteria and activates pepsin (protein digesting enzyme)
Pyloric sphincter controls food leaving the stomach.

Liver

Produces bile for fat digestion

Gallbladder

Stores and releases bile into the small intestine

Pancreas

Produces pancreatic juices (with enzymes for digesting all food types/ carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) into the small intestine

Small Intestine

About 7 meters long; divided into duodenum, jejunum, and ileum
Site of chemical digestion and nutrient absorption into the blood
Villi (tiny projections) increase the surface area for absorption
Nutrients absorbed through villi walls: Fats into lymph system, sugars and amino acids into portal vein to the liver

Large Intestine

About 1.5 meters long; Includes the caecum, colon, appendix, rectum, and anus
Absorbs water from the undigested material
Eliminates waste

Teeth

Adult humans have 32 teeth (16 in each jaw)
Four types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars
Herbivores have large incisors and molars for plants
Carnivores have large canines for tearing meat
Omnivores have all types of teeth for varied diets.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the human digestive system, including the organs involved and the processes of digestion. From the mouth to the stomach, this quiz covers how food is transformed into usable substances to support human survival. Explore the roles of saliva, stomach acids, and bile in digestion.