Digestive System

Three functions of the Digestive System

1. Breaks down food into molecules the body can use. 2. Molecules are absorbed into the blood and carried throughout the body. 3. Wastes are eliminated from the body.

About how long, from beginning to end, are the organs of the digestive system?

9 meters (around 27 feet long)

__________ is the process by which nutrient molecules pass through the wall of your digestive system into your blood.

Absorption

In ________ digestion, chemicals produced by the body break foods down.

Chemical

Choose the correct word. Pepsin mechanically/chemically digests the proteins in your food, breaking them down into short chains of amino acids.

Chemically

_________ is the process by which your body breaks down food into small nutrient molecules.

Digestion

An ______ is a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body.

Enzyme

The __________ is a flap of tissue that seals off the windpipe and prevents food from entering.

Epiglottis

After food enters the _________, contractions of smooth muscles push the food toward the stomach.

Esophagus

The _________ is a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

Esophagus

True or false? In chemical digestion, foods are physically broken down into smaller pieces by chewing.

False

Besides pepsin, digestive juices in the stomach also contain ____________ ____, which is a very strong acid.

Hydrochloric Acid

Without the strong ____________ ____, your stomach would not be able to function properly.

Hydrochloric Acid

__________ digestion occurs when you bite into food and chew it.

Mechanical

What are the two kinds of digestion?

Mechanical and Chemical

. Stomach acid doesn't burn a hole in your stomach because of?

Mucus

_____ is a thick, slippery substance produced by the body.

Mucus

___________ is the involuntary waves of muscle contraction that keeps food moving along in one direction through the digestive system.

Peristalsis

The fluid released when your mouth waters is called ______.

Saliva

After food enters the esophagus, contractions of ______ muscles push the food toward the stomach.

Smooth

Pepsin is an enzyme found in the digestive juices of the _______.

Stomach

The _______ is a J-shaped, muscular pouch located in the abdomen.

Stomach

True or false? Acid kills many bacteria that you swallow with your food.

True

True or false? Both mechanical and chemical digestion begin in the mouth.

True

True or false? Digestive juice in the stomach contains an enzyme that breaks down proteins.

True

True or false? There is both mechanical and chemical digestion in the stomach.

True

The digestive system breaks down food into molecules the body can use. Then, molecules are absorbed into the blood and carried throughout the body. Finally, the digestive system removes ______ from the body.

Waste

An enzyme found in the mouth that breaks down starches into simple sugars is called this?

amylase

Bile is responsible for breaking down this?

fat

This stores bile until needed by the small intestine

gall bladder

This is where water is absorbed from digested materials

large intestine (COLON)

This organ produces bile.

liver

This organ breaks down proteins, fats and starches

pancreas

Another name for the throat?

pharnyx

Most nutrient absorption occurs here.

small intestine

Choose the letter of the correct combination of words. Food remains in the stomach until all of the _____ material has been broken down into ______ form.

solid/liquid

What structure begins the process of mechanical digestion in the mouth?

teeth

These structures are in the small intestine and absorb nutrients from carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

villi