Animal Digestion

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to animal digestion.

Herbivores

Animals that primarily consume plants.

Carnivores

Animals that primarily consume meat.

Omnivores

Animals that consume both plants and meat.

Biosynthesis

The process of making new molecules necessary for life.

Essential nutrients

Nutrients that cannot be synthesized and must be obtained from food, including certain amino acids and vitamins.

Mechanical digestion

The physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces.

Chemical digestion

The enzymatic breakdown of food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed.

Ingestion

The process of taking in food through the mouth.

Digestion

The process of breaking down food into smaller molecules.

Absorption

The process of nutrient molecules entering the body's cells.

Elimination

The removal of undigested material from the body.

Intracellular digestion

Digestion that occurs within cells, such as in food vacuoles.

Extracellular digestion

Digestion that occurs in a digestive system or compartments outside of cells.

Gastrovascular cavity

A central cavity that facilitates digestion and nutrient distribution in some organisms.

Alimentary canal

A complete digestive tract with two openings: mouth and anus.

Peristalsis

The wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

Pepsin

An active enzyme that begins protein digestion in the stomach.

Bile

A digestive fluid produced by the liver that aids in fat digestion.

Microbiome

The community of microorganisms living in the gut; plays a role in digestion and health.

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

A hormone that stimulates the release of digestive enzymes and bile.

Secretin

A hormone that stimulates the pancreas to release bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid.