Digestion
Label Parts of the Digestive System
Describe the functions of parts in the digestive system
Mouth (1):
Food enters your body through the mouth
Liver (2):
The liver produces and excretes bile, which breaks down fat, the liver also deals with the metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates
Ascending Colon (3):
The ascending colon absorbs remaining key nutrients from indigestible food
Cecum (4):
The cecum absorbs fluids and salts remaining after intestinal digestion
Appendix (5):
The appendix theoretically stores good bacteria for later use when needed
Rectum and Anus (6):
The rectum and anus eject the final waste product made after digestion out of the body
Esophagus (7):
Food travels down the esophagus into the stomach to be digested
Stomach (8):
The stomach digests food, mixes and breaks down nutrients from food
Gallbladder (9):
The gallbladder stores bile until it is used during digestion
Large Intestine (10):
The large intestine absorbs remaining salt and water then excrete the final waste product
Small Intestine (11):
The small intestine produces enzymes and absorbs the vast majority of nutrients into the bloodstream
Descending Colon (12):
The descending colon stores the remains of the finished waste product to later be ejected
Ileum (13):
The ileum absorbs the final nutrients passing through the small intestine such as vitamin B12 and bile acids
Describe the function of bile
Bile contains Bile Acids which play a massive role in the digestion and absorption of fats into the small intestine and the activation of lipase enzymes.
State the location and pH requirements of the digestive enzymes
Salivary amylase is found in the saliva which is in the mouth, breaks down carbohydrates, and has a pH requirement of about 6.8, with pancreatic protease being an enzyme that breaks down protein, produced by the pancreas, is found in the small intestine, and also has an optimal pH range of 7.5-8.5. An outlier from these results is Pepsin or Stomach Protease which is found in the stomach and has an optimal pH range of 1.5-2.0.
Distinguish between mechanical and chemical digestion.
Mechanical digestion is when food is physically broken down in the mouth into smaller pieces in which it is then swallowed. All the absorption and dissolving and digesting afterwards is chemical digestion.