Digestion is a PROCESS whereby large, complex,
insoluble molecules are broken down into small, simple
soluble food molecules so it can be absorbed into the
blood stream.
Digestion is broken down into 2 ways
1. Mechanical ( teeth breaking down large food into smaller food particles)
2. Chemical digestion ( enzymes involved)
Describe the process of digestion
DIGESTION
Digestion of food starts in the mouth
The teeth chews the food and breaks it up from large insoluble food
molecules into smaller soluble food molecules
The saliva moistens the food and makes it easier to swallow. Saliva
contains the enzyme AMYLASE which converts starch into maltose
The tongue keeps the food in the chewing range rolls the food into a
ball called BOLUS which goes to the oesophagus.
OESOPHAGUS/GULLET
No digestion occurs here
It transports food from mouth to the stomach by PERISTALSIS
Has no rings of cartilage
Peristalsis is the contraction and relaxation of muscles pushing food down
into the stomach
STOMACH
Secretes a juice called GASTRIC JUICE
Gastric juice contains water, hydrochloric acid and enzyme pepsin
Pepsin converts proteins into polypeptides
Hydrochloric acid provides an acidic environment for pepsin and kills bacteria
which may enter the stomach
The muscles in the stomach also churn the food into a soup like fluid called
CHYME. Chyme moves to the small intestine.
SMALL INTESTINE
Comprises of the duodenum and ileum
Food enters the duodenum of the small intestine.
Bile is made in the liver and stored in the gall bladder and transported to the
small intestine by the bile duct.
Bile is not an enzyme
In the small intestine, bile breaks down large fat molecules into small fat
molecules/droplets. This process is called emulsification
The pancreas make pancreatic juice.
Pancreatic juice is secreted into the small intestine . pancreatic juice contains
enzymes trypsin, amylase and lipase
Trypsin converts polypeptides into amino acids
Amylase converts starch into maltose
Lipase converts emulsified fats into glycerol and fatty acids
ILEUM
The substances now move to the ileum.
The ileum secretes INTESTINAL JUICE.
Intestinal juice contains enzymes MALTASE, SUCRASE and PEPTIDASE
Maltase converts maltose into glucose
Sucrase converts sucrose into glucose and fructose
Peptidase converts polpeptides into amino acids
The end products of digestion are glucose, amino acids, fatty acids and glycerol
These products are absorbed into the bloodstream and goes to cells
DIGESTION STOPS IN THE SMALL INTESTINE
The small intestine contains finger like projections called VILLI to help the
absorption of the end products into the blood stream.
LARGE INTESTINE
Comprises of COLON AND RECTUM
Undigested material leave the small intestine and move to the colon of the
large intestine.
Undigested material together with dead cells, bile pigments, mucus and
bacteria form Faeces.
Water in the large intestine are sometimes absorbed back into the blood
stream.
Faeces formed is stored in the RECTUM, at intervals the muscles relaxes and
faeces then passes through the ANUS.
1. Write the functions of the following organelles: cytoplasm chloroplast, mitochondrion, cell
wall
2. What is a unicellular organism and give 1 example
3. Match the following terms with the main parts of a cell
a. Filter – cell membrane
b. Food factory – starch/glycogen grains
c. Computer centre – nucleus
d. Laboratory – cytoplasm
4. List 3 ways you can care for your teeth
5. Name the 4 end products of digestion
6. Name the food substrate broken down in the stomach the enzyme present and product
formed
7. What is the end product of digestion of fats
8. What happens if you eat candy and does not brush your teeth
9. Where is bile made, stored and what is its function
10. Write down the food test for starch, and the colour changes if starch is present
1. Define term digestion
2. Where is bile stored
3. Where is bile produced and what is its function
4. Where is starch first broken down name the enzyme
5. Name 1 water and 1 fat soluble vitamin
6. Name the part of the tooth found below the enamel
7. What are the end products of digestion
8. List the 4 types of teeth found in an adult and give its function
