Science Olympiad: Digestive system

stomach

An organ of the digestive system where most mechanical breaking down of food happens

esophagus

A muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

large intestine

Absorbs water and forms feces

liver, gallbladder, pancreas

organs that create chemicals that help the small intestines break down food

Liver

makes bile, breaks down and eliminates toxins, such as nitrogen containing compounds

mouth

where digestion begins

small intestine

Long hollow tube where most absorption of nutrients occurs

pancreas

An organs in the abdominal cavity with two roles. The first is to produce digestive enzymes . The second is to secrete insulin into the bloodstream to help regulate blood glucose levels.

gall bladder

An organ that stores bile and releases it as needed into the small intestine

digestion, absorption, elimination

functions of digestive system in 3 words

gastrointestinal tract

another name for alimentary canal

liver

produces bile

rectum

stores solid waste and compresses into more solid form

chemical digestion

breaking down food with enzymes

mechanical digestion

crushing, mashing or breaking down food into smaller pieces

colon

another name for the large intestine

duodenum

first part of small intestine

chyme

thick slippery paste of food molecules

carbohydrase

enzyme that breaks down starches into sugars

hydrochloric acid

kills bacteria in stomach and gives an acidic environment for enzymes to work

rugae

folds in the stomach that increase surface area

villi

fingerlike projections in the small intestine that increase surface area

baby teeth

common name for primary teeth

pharynx

throat

peristalsis

involuntary squeezing action of the muscles in the digestive system; causes food to move through

epiglottis

flap of tissue that covers the trachea when swallowing food

bacteria

organisms found in the large intestine that help with digestion of solid matter

salivary gland

production of saliva

pepsin

an enzyme that converts protein into amino acids

lipase

an enzyme that converts fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol

indigestion

pain in stomach caused by too much acid

faeces

Solid waste eliminated by the anus

ingestion

process of consuming food and liquid

egestion

process of eliminating solid waste

fibre

crucial for bulking up food for efficient digestion

water

crucial for overall digestive function

vitamins and minerals

essential for healthy cell function

carbohydrate

our primary source of energy in food

protein

for growth and repair of tissue

fats

for insulation and secondary energy source