Project 3.2.2 Small and Large Intestines

Where do bile and pancreatic enzymes enter the small intestine?

Duodenum

How does the large intestine help maintain a water balance in the body?

The large intestine absorbs water from food.

What is the function of the large intestine in relation to digestion?

The main function of the large intestine is to absorb water and makes the waste a solid that will exit your body.

What is the pH within the small intestine and how is this pH maintained?

The pH gradually increases from about 6-7.5 as you go farther down the intestine. The pH is maintained by the sodium bicarbonate.

How does food move through the intestines?

The smooth muscles of the small intestine contract and push the food downward. These contractions are called peristaltic movement.

What enzymes act inside the small intestine and what are the functions of these enzymes?

1. Amylase: acts on carbohydrates and starches. Breaks them down and converts them to maltose, which is a smaller carb. 2. Protease: this is a general term, an example would be trypsin. These break down proteins into amino acids. 3. Lipase: pancreatic lipase acts in the small intestine. Here it converts fat into fatty acids and glycerol and they are used for energy.

What are the three sections of the large intestine and what roles does each play in digestion or absorption?

1. Cecum: this is where the small and large intestines join. It increases in diameter here, too, to allow food to go from the small intestine to the large intestine. 2. Colon: (ascending, transverse, descending) The ascending colon carries waste to the transverse colon, which absorbs water and nutrients from digested food. The descending colon is where bacteria can digest the remaining food. 3. Rectum: Where feces is stored.

What are the three sections of the small intestine and what role does each section play in digestion or absorption?

1. Duodenum: here is where many chemicals mix with the partially broken-up food continue chemical digestion. 2. Jejunum: this is where the food is starting to be absorbed and nutrients are being taken out of the food. 3. Ileum: this is the final place of absorption of anything that was missed in the first two sections, and especially vitamins.