humans and the gut

• what is meant by Ingestion in the digestive system


  the process of taking food into the body through the mouth
• what is meant by digestion in the digestive system


  the breakdown of large insoluble molecules into soluble molecules that can be absorbed into the blood
• what are the two types of digestion

  mechanical and chemical
• what is meant by mechanical digestion


  the cutting and crushing by teeth and muscle contractions of the gut wall
• what is the function of mechanical digestion


  to increase the surface area for chemical digestion to take place
• what is meant by chemical digestion


  The breakdown of food molecules using digestive enzymes
• what contributes to chemical digestion

  bile and stomach acid
• what is meant by Absorption


  the passage of small soluble molecules and ions through the gut wall and into the blood
• what is meant by Egestion


  the elimination of indigestible waste
• in what area does digestion and absorption occur


  in the gut
• what is the gut


  a long hollow muscular tube in which digestion and abortion occur
• is the gut bidirectional


  no
• by what process is food propelled along the gut

  peristalsis
• what is meant by peristalsis


  this is a wave of muscular contractions and relaxations of the gut wall which moves food along the gut
• what is the first step of peristalsis


  contraction of circular muscles behind the bolus of food
• what is meant by a bolus of food


  this is how food is transported through the gut
• what is the second step of peristalsis after the contraction of circular muscles


  the contraction of longitudinal muscles ahead of the food
• what is the final step of peristalsis after the contraction of the longitudinal muscles


  the circular muscles contract again forcing the food forward