Digestive System
What are the 3 main functions of the digestive system?
Decompose food substances, absorb nurtients & water, eliminate waste products
Name the order of the path the food follows inside the body (8)
Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, rectum, anus
What are the 3 functions of food?
Build & repair body tissue, produce energy, regulate the metabolism
What does vitamin A do, and what does an excess of it cause?
Good vision, development of bones & teeth
Excess: toxicity to lives
What does vitamin B do, and what does a lack of it cause?
Promotes proper functioning of the nervous system and the formation of red blood cells
Lack of causes anemia
What does vitamin C do, and what does a lack of it cause?
Prevents infections, boosts immune system
Lack of causes scurvy
What does vitamin D do, and what does a lack of it cause?
Promotes the formation of healthy bones and teeth
Lack of causes diabetes
What does vitamin K do, and what does a lack and excess of it cause?
Promotes normal blood clotting
Lack of causes heavy bleeding & blood in nose, urine, etc.
Excess causes blood clots
What are the 2 ways to mechanically digest food?
Chewing and your stomach churning
What is Peristalsis?
Muscular contractions performed by esophagus, stomach and intestines to push food down the tract
What chemical digests carbs and where?
Saliva from the salivary glands in your mouth
What chemical digests protein and where?
Gastric juices from your gastric glands in your stomach
What chemical digests fats and where?
Bile in the small intestine, produced by the liver
What are the 2 last resorts for chemical digestion & where do they happen?
Pancreas produces pancreatic enzymes & delivers it to the small intestine
Small intestine releases intestinal juices
Where are most nutrients absorbed?
In the small intestine
Where is excess water absorbed?
In the large intestine
What does Calcium do?
Promotes healthy bones & teeth
What does Iron do?
Promotes red blood cell formation
What does Potassium do?
It's vital in muscle contraction and nerve transmission
What does sodium do?
It helps maintain normal water content and distribution
What does water do and what does an excess of water lead to?
It dissolves food substances and carries nutrients through body
Excess leads to dilution of blood, swelling of brain cells and cell death
What does dietary fiber do?
Helps digestion, prevents constipation and keeps intestines healthy