FORM 4 CHAPTER 6: NUTRITION

Digestion of Carbohydrates, Protein and Lipids in Human b. Kills bacteria in the food
Digestive System c. Prepare an acidic medium for
action of Pepsin to digest Protein
 Enzymes:
a. Pepsin hydrolyse protein into
polypeptides

𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑖𝑛 + 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 Pepsin 𝑃𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑝𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠

b. Rennin coagulates milk by

converting Caseinogen (Soluble
milk) into Casien (Insoluble milk)

𝐶𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑛 + 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 Rennin 𝐶𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑛

 Now, food is in the form of Chyme
(Semi solid and semi digested food)
 Secrete bile (alkaline, greenish-yellow
liquid)
 Bile:
a. Contain no enzyme
Liver
b. Create alkaline medium for action
pH 7.6 to 8.6
of enzyme in duodenum
c. Reduced acidity of chyme
d. Emulsifies fats by changing fats
into tiny droplets
Gall Bladder  Stores bile temporarily
 Secrete Pancreatic Juice
Parts of the  Pancreatic Juice contain:
Pancreas a. Lipase
human
Function b. Pancreatic Amylase
digestive
system c. Trypsin
 Digestion begins in mouth  Bile enter duodenum through bile duct
a. Physical digestion: the chewing of  Pancreatic Juice is secreted into
food to breakdown food into smaller duodenum through pancreatic duct
pieces.  In duodenum, chyme is mixed with
b. Chemical digestion: Salivary Amylase pancreatic juice
Mouth  Digestions of starch, polypeptides and
Enzyme in Saliva hydrolyses starch
pH 6.5 – 7.5 lipid take place
into maltose
 Enzymes:
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ + 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 Salivary Amylase
𝑀𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑜𝑠𝑒 a. Pancreatic Amylase hydrolyse
 Chewed food is rolled by tongue into starch into Maltose
lumped called Bolus Duodenum Pancreatic Amylase
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ + 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑀𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑜𝑠𝑒
 Bolus transport into stomach by pH 7.5 – 8.2
Peristalsis. Peristalsis is the
Oesophagus
contraction and relaxation of muscle b. Trypsin hydrolyse Polypeptides to
of alimentary canal. Peptides
 Stomach wall secrete gastric juices
Trypsin
 Gastric juice contains 𝑃𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑝𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 + 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠

a. Hydrochloric acid c. Lipase hydrolyse Lipid (Fats tiny

Stomach b. Enzyme Pepsin and Rennin droplets) into Fatty Acid and
pH 1 - 2  Digestion of protein starts here Glycerol
 Hydrochloric Acid Lipase
𝐿𝑖𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑠 + 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐹𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑦 𝐴𝑐𝑖𝑑
a. Stops the action of Salivary
+𝐺𝑙𝑦𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑙
Amylase
 FORM 4 CHAPTER 6: NUTRITION

 Secrete Intestinal juice

 Intestinal Juice contain enzyme:
a. Maltase
b. Lactase
c. Sucrase
d. Erepsin
e. Lipase
 Maltase, Sucrase and Lactase
hydrolyse Maltose, Sucrose and
Lactose into Monosaccharides
Maltase
Maltose + Water Glucose +
Glucose

Sucrase
Sucrose + Water Glucose +
Digestion of Cellulose in Ruminants
Fructose
1. Starts when ruminants chewing food followed by
Lactase
swallowing into the rumen
Lactose + Water Glucose + 2. Microorganism in rumen produce Cellulase which
Ileum
Galactose breakdown Cellulose
 Erepsin hydrolyse Peptides into Amino 3. Food then enters reticulum. Here, Cellulose undergo
Acids further hydrolysis.
Erepsin
4. Contents in the reticulum now is called cud (partially
Peptides + Water Amino digested food)
Acids 5. Cud is then regurgitated bit by bit into the mouth to
 Lipase hydrolyse Lipid into Fatty Acids be chewed again
and Glycerol 6. Cud is then reswallowed into the omasum where
water is removed from the cud
Lipids + Water Lipase Fatty Acids 7. Finally, cud is passed to the abomasum (the true
+ Glycerol stomach)
Acids 8. Abomasum contain digestives enzymes which
 End products complete the protein and fats digestion.
a) Carbohydrates into Glucose 9. Digested food is then absorbed in the intestine.
b) Protein into Amino Acid
c) Lipids into Glycerol and Fatty Digestion of Cellulose in Rodents
Acids
 Water and minerals absorb into the 1. Rodents have Caecum and Appendix that enlarge to
Colon bloodstream here store the bacteria that produce Cellulase
 Bacteria synthesise Vitamin B12 and K 2. Breakdown products pass through the alimentary
canal twice
Digestive system in Ruminants and Rodents 3. The first batch faeces produced at night that are
1) Ruminants like cows and goats and Rodents like rabbits watery and soft
and rats feed on plants which contain Cellulose but they 4. Rodents will eat again their faeces
don’t have Cellulase enzyme to digest it. They solve this 5. As the breakdown products (faeces) pass through
problem by having digesting systems which are specially the alimentary canal for second time, all nutrients
adapted to carry Cellulase digestion. are absorbed.
6. The second batch faeces are harder and drier.
Ruminants
a) Ruminants have four stomach namely Rumen, Reticulum,
Omasum and Abomasum.
b) This enables ruminants to carry rumination, the process
of regurgitating and rechewing food.
c) Rumen and Reticulum contain large number of bacteria
and protozoa that produce cellulase to digest cellulose.
 FORM 4 CHAPTER 6: NUTRITION

6.5 Absorption and Assimilation

Absorption of Digested Food in Small Intestine
1. The process of digestion is completed in the Ileum to
produce simple sugars, amino acids, glycerol and fatty
acids.
2. The process of absorption also occurs in the Ileum
3. The end products of digestion are absorbed by villi
(singular: villus) in the wall of small intestine.
4. The epithelial cells of the villus have tiny projections
called microvilli.

Adaptation of the digestive system for absorption

1. Small intestine is long and coiled to increase surface area
for absorption.
2. The epithelial cells lining the villus is very thin as one cell
thick to facilitate diffusion of digested food.
Comparison between the process of Cellulose digestion in 3. There are many villus and microvillus to increase surface
Human, Ruminants and Rodents area for absorption
4. Each villus has a network of blood capillaries to transport
Human Ruminants Rodents the digested food that has been absorbed.
Similarities 5. Each villus also has lacteal (lymph vessel) to transport
glycerol and fatty acids.
 Cannot produce Cellulase to digest Cellulose
 Have one alimentary canal
Differences
Cannot digest Can digest Can digest
Cellulose Cellulose Cellulose
Do not produce Bacteria and Bacteria and
Cellulase Protozoa in Protozoa in
Rumen and Appendix and
Reticulum Caecum produce
produce Cellulase Cellulase
Have one Have four
Have one
stomach stomach
stomach chamber
chamber chambers
Caecum is large
to store bacteria
Caecum is small Caecum is small
that produce
Cellulase
The food enters
Rumen then
Reticulum. It is The food passed
The food pass regurgitated to through
through the mouth to be Alimentary Canal
alimentary canal chewed again. twice so all
once before The food is nutrients from
being absorbed reswallowed and food can be
enters Omasum absorbed.
and lastly
The Process of absorption and transportation of nutrients in
Abomasum
the villus
1. Blood capillaries at the villus absorb glucose, amino
acids, minerals, Vitamins B and C.
2. Hepatic portal vein transports glucose, Amino acids, lipid,
minerals, Vitamin B and C are transported to the liver.
 FORM 4 CHAPTER 6: NUTRITION

3. From liver, the food molecules are transported to all the Function of the liver
cells in the body by blood circulatory system pump by 1. Convert excess glucose into glycogen
heart. 2. Detoxification (remove toxin, pesticides, carcinogen and
4. Lacteal of villus absorb glycerol, fatty acids, Vitamin A, D, poison)
E and K. 3. Breakdown excess amino acids through deamination
5. Lymphatic vessel transport glycerol, fatty acids, Vitamin 4. Production of bile
A, D, E and K into bloodstream or lymphatic system. 5. Breakdown of old Red Blood Cell
6. Then, transported to all part of the body by the blood 6. Synthesis of cholesterol
circulatory system via the left subclavian vein. 7. Storage of nutrients:
a) Vitamin A, D, E and K
b) Minerals such as Potassium, Zinc, Iron and cobalt
c) Synthesis of plasma protein (albumin, globulin and
fibrinogen)

Formation of Faeces and Defaecation

1. Colon reabsorb 90% water and minerals into the
bloodstream
2. Absorption of water from the indigestible food residue
result in the formation of faeces
3. Defaecation is the process of removing of faeces from
the body through anus
4. Process:
a) Faeces is stored temporarily in the rectum
b) When the rectum is full,
c) Sphincter muscle at the rectum will relax,
d) Rectal wall will contract
e) The faeces ejected via the anus

Assimilation by body cell

1. Assimilation is the process where the products of

digestion are absorbed and used by the body cells.
2. The products of digestion are used to synthesise complex
molecules required for growth, reproduction and repair.
3. Excess absorbed food molecules are stored in the body.
4. Glucose is oxidised to produce energy through the
process of cell respiration
5. Excess glucose is converted into glycogen and stored in
the liver and muscle.
6. Amino acids are used to synthesise enzymes, antibody,
plasma protein, plasma membrane and protoplasm.
7. Excess amino acids are converted into urea by the
process name deamination and then expel through urine.
8. Lipids are used to build up phospholipid and cholesterol.
9. Excess lipids are store as adipose tissue (under the skin,
abdomen and internal organs such as kidneys and heart)
to reserve energy and acts as a cushion for important
organs.
10. Minerals and vitamin are assimilated by the body cells.