Define digestive system.
The organ system responsible for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.
What is the function of the esophagus?
To transport food from the mouth to the stomach.
Fill in the blank: The stomach secretes _______ to aid digestion.
Gastric acid
True or false: The small intestine is where most nutrient absorption occurs.
TRUE
The small intestine consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
What is the role of the liver in digestion?
To produce bile, which helps digest fats.
Define bile.
A digestive fluid produced by the liver that emulsifies fats.
What does the pancreas secrete?
Digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin.
Fill in the blank: The large intestine absorbs water and _______.
Electrolytes
True or false: The appendix has no known function in digestion.
TRUE
The appendix is often considered a vestigial organ.
What is peristalsis?
The wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.
Define chyme.
The semi-liquid mixture of food and digestive juices in the stomach.
What is the function of saliva?
To begin the digestion of carbohydrates and lubricate food.
Fill in the blank: The rectum stores _______ before elimination.
Feces
True or false: The stomach has a pH level of around 2.
TRUE
This acidic environment helps break down food and kill bacteria.
What is the function of the gallbladder?
To store and concentrate bile produced by the liver.
Define digestion.
The process of breaking down food into smaller components for absorption.
What are villi?
Small, finger-like projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients.
Fill in the blank: Fiber aids in _______ regulation.
Bowel
True or false: The tongue plays a role in taste and swallowing.
TRUE
The tongue helps manipulate food and contains taste buds.
What is the function of the salivary glands?
To produce saliva that begins the digestion process.
Define absorption in digestion.
The process of taking nutrients from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.
What is gastric reflux?
The backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus.
Fill in the blank: The duodenum is the first part of the _______.
Small intestine
True or false: Enzymes are not involved in digestion.
FALSE
Enzymes speed up the chemical reactions that break down food.
