- The chemical breakdown is when the body makers enzymes (chemicals that breakdown

food into small molecules). Enzymes are added to the salivary glands, stomach, pancreas,
and small intestine. Additionally, the liver makes chemical called bile, stored in the gall
bladder, which helps the gall bladder, which helps the body digest fat.
- Molecules may passively diffuse across the cell membrane, or shuttled in through natural
or artificial delivery mechanisms. Membrane transporters allow the passage of various
ions and metabolites. Protein toxins and viruses have evolved complex translocation
mechanisms, hijacking the host’s ER transporters in some instances.
- The cell membrane consists mainly of phospholipids and proteins in the form of a lipid
bilayer. Mechanisms for moving chemicals through the cell membrane include: passive
diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport, and endocytosis.
- The senses of smell and taste combine at the back of the throat when something is tasted
before it is smelled; the smell lingers internally up to the nose causing you to smell it.
Both smell and taste use chemoreceptors, which essentially mean they are both sensing
the chemical environment. The chemoreception in regards to taste occurs through the
presence of specialized taste receptors within the mouth that are referred to as taste cells
and are bundled together to form taste buds. These taste buds are located in papillae
which are found across the tongue, are specific for the five modalities: salt, sweet, sour,
bitter and umami. These receptors are activated when their specific stimulus (i.e., sweet
or salt molecules is present and signals to the brain)