2 G8 food and Digestion Lesson 1-laptops

Digestion

The process by which food is broken down from large complex molecules into smaller simpler molecules that can be absorbed by the body.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up the rate of chemical reactions and remain unchanged at the end.

Substrate

The reactant that fits into an enzyme's active site during digestion.

Active Site

The specific region on an enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction occurs.

Types of Digestion

Physical digestion and chemical digestion; the former involves breaking down food into smaller pieces, while the latter involves enzymatic breakdown of food molecules.

Amino Acids

The building blocks of proteins, which are the components that make up enzymes.

Chemical Digestion

The process in which enzymes break down food into smaller molecules at a chemical level.

Enzyme-Reactant Complex

The intermediate formed when a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme.

Why are enzymes important in digestion?

Enzymes are essential for breaking down food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the body.

Absorption

The process by which digested nutrients are taken up by the body from the digestive tract.