Journey Through the Digestive System: Understanding Food Breakdown

1. What is the term for the process when complex substances are broken down into simpler chemicals by saliva and gastric juices?

Mechanical digestion

Chemical digestion

Excretion

Absorption

Chemical digestion refers to the breakdown of complex substances into simpler chemicals through the action of digestive enzymes in saliva and gastric juices. This process is essential for the body to extract nutrients from food.

Explanation

Chemical digestion refers to the breakdown of complex substances into simpler chemicals through the action of digestive enzymes in saliva and gastric juices. This process is essential for the body to extract nutrients from food.

2. What is the process whereby muscles of the oesophagus push the ball of food down by contracting behind the food?

Digestion

Peristalsis

Bolus Movement

Chyme Formation

Peristalsis is the coordinated contraction and relaxation of muscles that helps move food through the digestive system. The other options do not specifically refer to the process described in the question.

Explanation

Peristalsis is the coordinated contraction and relaxation of muscles that helps move food through the digestive system. The other options do not specifically refer to the process described in the question.

3. What is the name of the combination of hydrochloric acid, mucus, and digestive enzymes that help break down food in the stomach?

Saliva

Gastric juice

Pancreatic juice

Bile

Gastric juice is the combination of hydrochloric acid, mucus, and digestive enzymes specifically found in the stomach, where it helps with food digestion. Pancreatic juice, bile, and saliva are also involved in the digestive process but are not the correct answer for this particular combination.

Explanation

Gastric juice is the combination of hydrochloric acid, mucus, and digestive enzymes specifically found in the stomach, where it helps with food digestion. Pancreatic juice, bile, and saliva are also involved in the digestive process but are not the correct answer for this particular combination.

4. What is the pathway that food takes through the digestive tract and other organs?

Respiratory system

Nervous system

Digestive system

Circulatory system

The digestive system is responsible for the breakdown and absorption of nutrients from food, while the respiratory system is for breathing, nervous system for communication and control, and circulatory system for the transportation of oxygen and nutrients.

Explanation

The digestive system is responsible for the breakdown and absorption of nutrients from food, while the respiratory system is for breathing, nervous system for communication and control, and circulatory system for the transportation of oxygen and nutrients.

5. What is the process when food is chewed and crushed by your teeth, breaking down into smaller pieces?

Absorption

Elimination

Chemical digestion

Mechanical digestion

Mechanical digestion refers to the physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces through processes like chewing. Chemical digestion involves breaking down food molecules with enzymes. Absorption is the process of nutrients passing from the digestive system into the bloodstream. Elimination is the excretion of waste products from the body.

Explanation

Mechanical digestion refers to the physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces through processes like chewing. Chemical digestion involves breaking down food molecules with enzymes. Absorption is the process of nutrients passing from the digestive system into the bloodstream. Elimination is the excretion of waste products from the body.

6. Where does water is reabsorbed and waste forms lumps of faeces (aka stool) which are expelled from the body through the anus?

Large intestine

Liver

Stomach

Small intestine

The large intestine is responsible for reabsorbing water and forming feces before it is expelled from the body. The small intestine is primarily where nutrient absorption occurs, the stomach digests food, and the liver aids in detoxification and metabolism.

Explanation

The large intestine is responsible for reabsorbing water and forming feces before it is expelled from the body. The small intestine is primarily where nutrient absorption occurs, the stomach digests food, and the liver aids in detoxification and metabolism.

7. Where in the body is digested food absorbed into the bloodstream through microscopic fingers known as villi?

Esophagus

Large intestine

Stomach

Small intestine

The small intestine is the part of the digestive system where most of the absorption of nutrients from food takes place, utilizing villi to increase surface area. The stomach primarily breaks down food, the large intestine absorbs water, and the esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Explanation

The small intestine is the part of the digestive system where most of the absorption of nutrients from food takes place, utilizing villi to increase surface area. The stomach primarily breaks down food, the large intestine absorbs water, and the esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

8. Which is the largest internal organ that removes toxins like alcohol from the blood and produces bile to digest fats?

Liver

Spleen

Pancreas

Kidney

The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body and performs vital functions such as metabolizing toxins and producing bile. While the kidney filters blood and produces urine, the pancreas regulates blood sugar levels and the spleen acts as a filter for blood cells.

Explanation

The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body and performs vital functions such as metabolizing toxins and producing bile. While the kidney filters blood and produces urine, the pancreas regulates blood sugar levels and the spleen acts as a filter for blood cells.