BIOLOGY SESSION 2

Nutrition Part 2 Digestion

Ingestion: Taking substances e.g food, drink into the body through the mouth
Egestion: Passing out of food that has not been digested, as faeces, through the anus
Excretion:
(The difference between excretion and egestion: Excretion only happens with urine,
breathe and sweat while egestion is only faeces)
Ingestion Digestion

Absorption Assimilation Excretion e.g urine, sweat

Egestion e.g faeces

Digestion: Break down of large insoluble food molecules into small, water-soluble
molecules using mechanical and chemical process (so small molecules can diffuse into
the bloodstream)
-Mechanical: Cutting and crushing action of teeth as feeding takes place, physical
digestion and rhythmical contractions of the gut and stomach
-Chemical: Carried out by enzymes within the digestive system
Absorption: Movement of digested food molecules through the wall of the intestine
into the blood
Process
Digestion
Absorption of digested food molecules
(Watery substance)
Absorption of water
(Solid substance)
Egestion

Where does it happen in the gut

Stomach
Small intestine
Large intestine
Anus

THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:

Into mouth: Ingested, Undigested remains removed through anus: Egested
Digestion and absorption takes place in between

Alimentary Canal:
Mouth, Salivary glands, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum and ileum,
pancreas, liver, gall bladder, large intestine (colon and rectum, anus)

Significance of chemical digestion in the alimentary canal:

-Produces small soluble molecules that can be absorbed
Enzyme
Site of production
Substrate
Amylase
Mouth and Pancreas
Starch
Protease
Small intestine and
Protein
stomach
Lipase
Small intestine and
Fat
Pancreas

Product of reaction
Glucose
Amino acids
Fatty acids and Glycerol

DIGESTION OF FATS
Fats are digested in the small intestine by lipase to fatty acids and glycerol
Clumped Fat ----(bile)------ Separated fats ---(enzymes)-- Fatty Acids
Bile is an alkaline substance produced by the liver and stored in gall bladder. It is
secreted in small intestine which it emulsifies fat. This is important because it provides
a larger surface area which lipase can work
Why is fat essential in our diet?
When excess fat is consumed in our diet, the body will store it within tissues called
adipose tissue, which provides cushion and insulation to our organs.
Fat is also the largest reserve of stored energy available for activity. The process that
uses fat to release energy for our cells is called respiration.
Type of fat, if consumed too much of, increases risk of developing coronary heart
disease: Saturated fat and Trans fat e.g Meat
ABOSRPTION OF FOOD/ SMALL INTESTINE:
Once digestion is complete, the small soluble food molecules have to be absorbed into
the bloodstream so the body can make use of it. This takes place across the wall of
ileum of the small intestine
Features of the ileum:
Feature of small intestine (Ileum)
Approximately 5m long
Very narrow
Inner surface is folded into villi projections
Each villi is covered with microvilli
The cell lining is only 1 cell thick
Well supplied with blood vessels
Lacteal present
Purpose of lacteal

Reason
Increase of surface area
Increase of surface area
Increase of surface area
Diffusion can happen quickly
Nutrition e.g glucose can get into the
bloodstream

Structure of a villus:
ROLE OF LIVER/ METABOLISM OF GLUCCOSE
Role of liver: Metabolism of glucose (glucose -> glycogen)

Teeth are designed for breaking down food. Teeth are covered in enamel and beneath
it lays the dentine, which is supplied with fibers and oxygen by blood vessels in the
pulp cavity. Adult has 32 teeth.

Number

Structure
Pulp Cavity

Function
Central space containing
nerves and blood supply
4
Crown
Part of tooth above the
gum
Nerve
Sensory endings that
respond to join and hot
and cold
Enamel (non-living)
Extremely hard material
forming sharp points and
edges- dead material
Cement
Helps attach root to jaw
and acts as shock
absorber
Root
Part of the tooth that lies
below the gum
Blood vessels
Supply food and oxygen
to the living cells of the
tooth
Gum
Soft tissue surrounding
the bone
Dentine
Hard, bone-like material
containing living cells
different types of teeth, shape and size of each tooth is related to the function they
have in digesting food
Diagram
Appearance
Function
(shape)
Incisor
Flat
Snipping and cropping
Canine
Sharp
Ripping and grinding
Pre-molar
Molar
Chewing and grinding
Type of tooth
Incisor
Canine *
Pre-molar *
Molar (including wisdom teeth) *
* found in mammals

Number
8
4
12
8

TOOTH DECAY
It is caused by acids made by bacteria in our mouths, the substance formed on the
surface of teeth is called plaque
-Causes of dental decay and describe the proper care of teeth

AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC RESPIRATION

Respiration: Chemical reactions that breaks down nutrient molecules in living cells to
release energy
Equation:
Aerobic respiration: Release of a relatively large amount of energy in cells by the
break down of food substances in the presence of oxygen
Equation:
Anaerobic respiration: Lactic acid
Uses of energy in body of humans: Muscles contraction, protein synthesis, cell
division, growth, the passage of nerve impulses and maintenance of constant body
temperature
Gas Exchange
Transport in Humans
Plant Nutrition
Role of liver: Metabolism of glucose (glucose -> glycogen)