VCE Biology Units 1&2 - The Digestive System

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the digestive system as outlined in the lecture notes.

Digestive System

The system responsible for obtaining nutrients from food that is ingested.

Mechanical Digestion

The process of breaking food into smaller pieces to increase surface area without altering its chemical nature.

Chemical Digestion

The breakdown of biomacromolecules into their subunits by enzymes.

Biomacromolecule

A large organic molecule, which includes lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids.

Subunit

The small molecules that join together to form biomacromolecules.

Enzyme

A protein that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

pH

A scale indicating how acidic or basic a solution is, ranging from 1 to 14.

Villus

A small finger-like projection of the intestinal epithelium in the small intestine.

Chyme

Partially digested food leaving the stomach.

Peristalsis

The process of smooth muscle waves that move food through the digestive tract.

Gizzard

A stomach that can grind food, typically found in toothless animals.

Ruminant

An animal that ferments fibrous plant material in a specialized stomach and chews it again.

Emulsify

To break into a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another.

Gall Bladder

An organ that concentrates bile and dispenses it into the duodenum for lipid digestion.

Caecum

The part of the digestive system equivalent to the appendix, containing symbiotic bacteria.

Amylase

An enzyme that digests starch, produced in saliva and pancreatic juice.

Protease

An enzyme that breaks down proteins into amino acids.

Lipase

An enzyme that breaks down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol.

Intestinal Juice

A fluid produced in the small intestine containing enzymes for digestion.

Pancreas

An organ that secretes pancreatic juice, which contains enzymes and bicarbonate.

Liver

An organ that filters blood, detoxifies chemicals, and secretes bile.

Large Intestine

The part of the digestive system responsible for water absorption and waste storage.