Chapter 4 : Food and Digestion

There are five stages:

1. Ingestion : taking food into the body through the mouth
2. Digestion : the breakdown of large, insoluble food molecules into small,
water soluble molecules using mechanical and chemical process
3. Absorption: moving digested molecules from the alimentary canal into
the bloodstream or the lymph so they can be transported around the
body.
4. Assimilation : movement of absorbed food molecules into cells where
theyu are sued and become part of the cells
5. Egestion: getting rid of food that could not be digested by passing it as
faeces.
Mouth: Digestion starts here The teeth cut and grind the food which is
mixed with saliva. The enzyme salivary amylase breaks starch down into
maltose (sugar).
Oesophagus : lumps of moist, chewed up food are carried to the stomach by
muscle movements. This is called peristalsis and also moves partly-digested
food along the small intestine.
Gall bladder: stores bile used to help in the digestion of fats.
Stomach: the stomach is like a sack. Here the enzyme pepsin breaks big
proteins down into small proteins (polypeptides). This can take several
hours.
Small intestine : this is made up of the duodenum and the ileum . here more
digestive juices are added. Starches, fats, proteins and complex sugars are
broken down into small soluble molecules. Fully digested food is absorbed
into the bloodstream. the wall of the small intestine has millions of tiny
finger-shaped structures called villi. These give a huge surface area for
absorbing digested food easily.
Large intestine : this is made up of the colon and the rectum. Only
undigested food reaches here. Water absorbed.
Anus : undigested solid food is passed out as faeces.
Enzymes and how it works?

Enzymes are catalysts. They speed up the reactions that break down large
food molecules, e.g. carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Enzymes molecules
have special shapes. Reactions occur more easily when a food molecule
locks on to the active site of the enzyme. Enzymes in our bodies work best
at about 37 Degree Celsius. Some like thouse found in the stomach, work
best in acid conditions (pH 2). Those found in the duodenum need an
alkaline environment (pH 8).
Enzyme (where found)

Action

Pepsin (stomach)

Proteins -> polypeptides (small

proteins)

Amylase (duodenum)

Carbohydrates -> maltose (sugar)

Lipase (small intestine)

Fats and oils -> fatty acids and

glycerol

Relationship in Digested food and the liver

The liver is the largest organ in the human body. It is like a chemical factory.
It processes digested food and other substances in the blood.
Its main functions are:
Storing vitamins, minerals and glycogen
Producing unwanted substances from the blood, e.g. alcohol is
removed from the blood by the liver
Generating heat to keep the bodys internal temperature at 37 Degree
Celsius.
Mineral

Calcium

Approximate
mass in an adult
body (g)
1000

Location or role in Examples of foods

the body
rich in minerals
Making teeth and
bones.

Dairy products,
fish, bread,
vegetables.

Phosphorus

650

sodium

100

Chlorine

100

Magnesium

30

Iron

Making teeth and

bones : part of
many chemicals,
e.g DNA
In body fluids, e.g
blood
In body fluids, e.g
blood
Making bones ;
Found inside
cells.
Part of
haemoglobin in
red blood cells.
Helps carry
oxygen.

Most foods

Common salt, most

foods
Common salt, most
foods
Green vegetables

Red meat, liver,

eggs, some
vegetables, e,g
spinach.

Vitami
n

Use in the body

Effect of
deficiency

Some food that are a

good source of the
vitamin

Making a chemical in
the retina; also
protects the surface of
the eye.
Helps with cell
respiration
Helps with cell
respiration
Helps with cell
respiration

Night blindnesss,
damaged cornea
of eye

Fish liver oils ,

liver,butter,margarine,c
arrots

Beri beri

Yeast extract ,cereals

Poor growth,dry
skin
Pellagra(dry red
skin, poor growth,
and digestive
disorders)
Scurvy

Green vegetables,eggs,
Fish
Liver, meat,fish

B1
B2
B3

Sticks together cells

Fresh fruit and
lining surfaces such as
vegetables
the mouth
Helps bone absorb
Rickets, poor teeth Fish liver oil; also make
calcium and
in skin in sunlight
phosphate