Digestion

Nutrients and Digestion

Key Terms

• Digestion: Process that breaks down food to release nutrients into the body

• Absorption : Movement of nutrients into the bloodstream

Mouth

• Mechanical phase• Teeth Chew• Saliva breaks down food• 1st step in digestion

Esophagus

• 10 – 12 inches in length• Connects mouth to stomach• Peristalsis – the wavelike movements that

push food to stomach • Digestion becomes automatic/involuntary

Stomach (holding tank)

• Pouch – holds 4 cups food• Gastric juices/acids are manufactured• Begin to break down food into Chyme• Order of digestion:– Carbs 1-2 hours– Protein 3-6 hours– Fats – 7 hours

Small Intestine

• Food is worked on by bile/pancreatic acid and intestinal juices

• Carbs – glucose• Protein – amino acids• Fats – fatty acids• Villi fingerlike sponges – absorb the nutrients

Large Intestine

• Water is removed• Waste dries out• Waste leaves body through anus

• (Smelly World)