CHAPTER FOUR

Digestion
Learning Objectives

You will learn

• about nutrients in our diet and their function
• the reasons why most food must be digested
• the role played by enzymes in digestion
• to describe the human digestive system and
how it helps in the digestion of food
• about the absorption of digested food into
the bloodstream
4.1 Substances in Our Food

Our diet is made up of the food and drink we consume

everyday.

Reasons for eating:

• grow new cells and tissues
• repair damaged tissues
• provide energy for work,
movement and to maintain body
temperature
• maintain body functions such as
breathing and keeping the heart
beating

The substances in our diets that keep us healthy are called

nutrients. They comprise carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Carbohydrates

What are
Carbohydrates???
Definition:
Carbohydrates provide body cells with the
energy they need.

Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen make up

carbohydrates. Foods rich in carbohydrates
are starch and sugars.

Examples: bread, rice, beans, pasta, potatoes (starch); apples,

bananas, grapes, raisins, chocolates and soft drinks (sugars)
Excess carbohydrates in our body are turned into fats
and stored. The fats are used for providing energy only if
carbohydrate intake is low.

foods rich in carbohydrates carbohydrates provide the

energy needed for running
Proteins

What are Proteins???

Definition:
Proteins are the main substances used for
the growth of new cells and the repair of
damaged tissues. They also provide
energy when the body lacks carbohydrates
and fats.

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen (and

sulphur) make up proteins.

Examples: fish, meat, eggs, milk, yoghurt, cheese and beans

 foods rich in proteins

proteins are used to

replace damaged cells
Fats

What are Fats???

Definition:
Fats are important sources of energy that
can provide twice as much energy as
carbohydrates.

Carbon, hydrogen and

oxygen make up fats. foods rich in fats

Examples: butter, margarine,

milk, cheese, nuts, and fatty
parts of meat
The Need for Digestion
Digestion is the process whereby large, insoluble food
molecules are broken down into smaller soluble
molecules in the body.
Larger insoluble molecules

Smaller soluble molecules

starch glucose

protein amino acids

fats glycerol and

fatty acids

The smaller molecules can then by absorbed into cells

where they are used for growth, repair and for respiration
to provide energy.
How are Large Molecules Changed
into Smaller Molecules?
The body produces special substances called digestive
enzymes to digest food. These enzymes cut up the large
molecules into smaller molecules and speed up the
process of digestion without being used up.

Each enzyme digests one type of food only.

saliva contains
an enzyme to
digest starch
4.2 The Human Digestive System

Digestion takes place in the digestive system.

This system comprises two major parts.
Organs of the
alimentary canal

mouth

Organs joined to oesophagus

the alimentary canal

liver
stomach
gall bladder
pancreas
small intestine

large intestine
Food comes out as watery
anus
solid called faeces.
The Process of Digestion
How the digestive system breaks up the food:

Part Process Role of Enzyme

Mouth • teeth cut and grind food into smaller pieces • enzymes in saliva break
down starch into sugars
Oesophagus • food moves slowly down to the stomach
Stomach • food is churned and mixed • enzymes digest proteins
• food forms a thick liquid, which then passes
into the small intestine
Small intestine • bile from the gall bladder results in easier • enzymes digest fats and
digestion of fats complete the digestion of
• digested food passes through the wall of the carbohydrates and
small intestine and into the blood vessels which proteins
surround it
Large intestine • food that cannot be digested reaches here
• excess water is removed and passed out of the
body through the anus
How does Food Pass Through the
Digestive System?
walls of small
intestine
Digested food is made up of:
blood blood carries
1) Small soluble molecules food to cells

- absorbed through the

walls of small intestines into
the blood stream

2) Large molecules
- cannot pass through the
walls of small intestines
The blood carries the small food
particles to all the cells in the body.
Making Absorption Easier
Structure of small intestine:

circular
muscle villi

blood vessel
carries digested
food away

The finger-like parts, called villi, provide a large surface

area for quicker absorption of digested food into the blood.