Bio Notes

Ingestion

The process of taking food into the body.

Digestion

The process of breaking large, complex food molecules into simple, soluble substances.

Absorption

The process by which digested food passes into the blood.

Assimilation

The process of using absorbed nutrients by body cells.

Egestion

The removal of undigested and unabsorbed food from the body.

Mastication

The process of chewing food to increase its surface area.

Peristalsis

Wave-like muscle contractions that push food down the oesophagus.

Chyme

The semi-liquid form of food after being mixed in the stomach.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions in digestion.

Emulsification

The process of breaking large fat droplets into smaller ones, facilitated by bile.

Villi

Tiny finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for absorption.

Breathing Rate

The amount of breaths a person takes in a minute, typically 12–20 times.

Oxygen Debt

The extra oxygen needed after exercise to remove lactic acid.

Bronchi

The tubes that carry air from the trachea into the lungs.

Alveoli

The sites of gas exchange in the lungs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.