Essential Biology 06.1: Digestion 1. Define enzyme.

Biological catalysts that control biochemical reactions, for example amylase (saliva), which catalyses the digestion of starch.

2. Define substrate. The substance on which an enzyme acts

3. Define macromolecule. a very large molecule commonly created by polymerization of smaller subunits. the term is applied to the four conventional biopolymers (acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids)

4. Distinguish between catabolic and anabolic metabolic reactions. Catabolic reactions break down organic matter, for example to harvest energy in cellular respiration. Anabolic reactions, on the other hand uses energy to construct components of cells such as proteins and nucleic acids. 5. Explain why digestion of large food molecules is essential. Firstly, the food we eat is made up of many compounds made by other organisms which are not all suitable for human tissues and therefore these have to be broken down and repaired so that our bodies can use them. Secondly, the food molecules have to be small enough to be absorbed by the villi in the intestine through diffusion, facilitated diffusion or active transport and so large food molecules need to be broken down into smaller ones for absorption to occur. 6. Complete the table to show the substrate, product and enzyme of digestion of these food macromolecules: Carbohydrates Type of Enzyme Example of enzyme Carbohydrase Trypsin Lipids (fats) Proteins

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Bandung International School

Essential Biology 06.1: Digestion

Product( s) Source of enzyme Optimum pH pancreas

7. Where might one find an enzyme with an optimum pH of 2? The stomach is acidic and has a pH between 1 and 3; pepsin is most active, and breaks proteins (reactant) into polypeptides (product), which then follows into the small intestine. 8. Outline how the following factors affect the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction: a. Substrate concentration: At low substrate concentration, the enzyme activity is proportional to the substrate concentration, because of collision between the substrate and enzyme. Thus the more substrate the higher the rate. However at a high substrate concentration, at some point all active sites are occupied so raising the substrate concentration has no effect. b. pH: There is an optimum at which enzyme activity is fastest ( mostly pH 7), and as pH increases or decreases from its optimum, enzyme activity is reduced. 9. Explain the need for enzymes in digestion, with a focus on temperature and energy. A graph showing the difference between a catalysed and uncatalysed reaction is useful. Enzymes are needed in the process of digestion as they are the biological catalysts which break down the large food molecules into smaller ones so that these can eventually be absorbed. Digestion can occur naturally at body temperature, however this process takes a long time as it happens at such a slow rate. For digestion to increase in these circumstances, body temperature would have to increase as well. However this is not possible as it would interfere with other body functions.
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Essential Biology 06.1: Digestion 10.Digestion of large food molecules is through enzyme-assisted hydrolysis. Complete the equation below to show hydrolysis of a dipeptide.

11.Label the diagram of the human digestive system below. Annotate each structure with its function and describe how it carries out this function.

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Bandung International School

Essential Biology 06.1: Digestion

Mouth and salivary glands Esophagu s

Liver Duodenu m Ascending colon

Stomac h Pancre as Jejunu m Ileum

Rectu m

Anus

12.The stomach is extremely acidic. a. What is this acid? What the function of this acid? The gastric acid, which mainly consists of HCl, NaCl, and KCl. Its function is to digest proteins by activating digestive enzymes, and making ingested proteins unravel so that digestive enzymes can break down the long chains of amino acids. b. What part of the stomach aids mechanical digestion? How? Inside the stomach mechanical digestion called peristaltic contractions helps to churn the food bolus. The chemical process mixes the bolus with digestive juices released by the stomach lining cells. c. Which enzyme is released by the stomach? Where from? How is it controlled?

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Bandung International School

Essential Biology 06.1: Digestion Pepsin. It is made by Pepsinogen, a substance secreted by the stomach. It is released when there is food submitted into the stomach by the muscle contraction from the esophagus.

13.Much digestion and absorption occurs in the small intestine. a. How is the acidic chyme neutralized in the small intestine? From the stomach the acidic chyme moves via the pyloric sphincter through to the first part of the small intestines, the duodenum where it must be immediately neutralized. Hormones are then released by the duodenum, and when they have reached the pancreas, liver and gallbladder they release the necessary enzymes, bile and pancreatic juices, which allow for a quick mix of chyme and enzymes making the contents alkaline. b. What feature of the ileum wall allows for greater absorption of food molecules? The surface area, which is so large that it allows a greater amount of absorption to take place as it is driven to the large intestine. c. By which mechanism is the bolus of food moved along the intestines? Food is moved through the alimentary canal by peristalsis, which consists of the alternate contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscles lining the tract.

14.In the space below, draw and label a single intestinal villus. Include epithelial cells, lacteal and capillaries. Explain the significance of the structures of the villus in absorption of digested food molecules. 15.Distinguish between ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, egestion and excretion. Ingestion: the process of ingesting or taking food into the body by swallowing.

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Bandung International School

Essential Biology 06.1: Digestion Digestion: the process of the breakdown of food with the aid of enzymes through the stomach and intestines for its substances to be used by the body. Absorption: the process by which the intestines absorb the nutrients that were broken down by the enzymes. Assimilation: to absorb and digest the nutrients ingested and digested by the body. Egestion: The discharge or expulsion of the final waste matter from our digestive tract. Excretion: the process of eliminating waste matter form the body after the nutrients of the food initially ingested have been digested and processed. 16.Distinguish between the small and large intestines in terms of structure and function. The small intestine are divided into three sections, which are the duodenum, jujenum, and the ileum. The small intestines are responsible for absorbing nutrients from the chyme (chyme is what the undigested mixture of food and enzymes is called). The large intestines are divided into nine sections, which are the cecum, acsending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, the splenic flexure, decsending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum, and the anus. The large intestines are responsible for reabsorbing water and some electrolytes. It is in the large intestine that the chyme is called feces. 17.What substances are egested as feces? Feces are mostly made of water (about 75%). The rest is made of dead bacteria that helps us digest our food, living bacteria, protein, undigested food residue (known as fiber), waste material from food, cellular linings, fats, salts, and substances released from the intestines (such as mucus) and the liver.

18.How can a high-fibre diet promote intestinal health?

Insoluble fiber helps mainly with intestinal disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Diverticulitis. It also shortens the time food is in the bowels and promotes more frequent bowel movements.

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Bandung International School

Essential Biology 06.1: Digestion

Soluble fibers also have a cholesterol lowering effect. It increases the removal of bile acids, decreases intestinal absorption of fatty acids and cholesterol and decreases cholesterol synthesis. Soluble fiber also binds cholesterol for elimination.

Stephen Taylor http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com

Bandung International School