Organisation

• Tissue


  A group of cells with a similar structure and function
• Organ


  A group of tissues working together for a specific function
• Organ system


  Organs grouped together to form organisms
• Main nutrients in food

  • Carbohydrates
  • Protein
  • Lipids (fats)
• Digestion


  1. Large food molecules broken down into small molecules by enzymes

  2. Small molecules absorbed into bloodstream
• Main organs of the digestive system

  • Mouth
  • Esophagus
  • Stomach
  • Small intestine
  • Large intestine
  • Liver
  • Pancreas
• Mouth


  • Food chewed, enzymes in saliva begin to digest starch
• Esophagus


  • Food passes from mouth to stomach
• Stomach


  • Enzymes begin digestion of proteins, contains hydrochloric acid, churning action turns food into fluid
• Small intestine


  • Enzymes from pancreas and liver continue digestion, small food molecules absorbed into bloodstream
• Large intestine


  • Water absorbed, feces released
• Liver


  • Releases bile to aid digestion of lipids
• Pancreas


  • Releases enzymes to continue digestion of starch, protein and lipids
• Products of digestion used by body to build new carbohydrates, lipids and proteins
• Some glucose produced is used in respiration
• Enzymes


  Catalyze chemical reactions, speed them up
• Enzymes


  • Large protein molecules
  • Have a groove on their surface called the active site
  • The active site is where the substrate attaches
• Substrate


  The molecule that the enzyme breaks down
• Substrate fits into active site


  Enzyme can break down substrate
• Substrate does not fit into active site


  Enzyme cannot break down substrate
• Lock and key theory


  Enzymes are specific, the substrate must fit perfectly into the active site
• Protein digestion


  1. Proteases in stomach, pancreatic fluid and small intestine

  2. Convert proteins to individual amino acids
• Proteins


  Long chains of chemicals called amino acids
• Starch digestion


  1. Carbohydrases, specifically amylase in saliva and pancreatic fluid

  2. Break down starch (chain of glucose molecules) into simple sugars
• Lipid digestion


  1. Lipase in pancreatic fluid and small intestine

  2. Break down lipids (glycerol and fatty acids)
• Lipids


  Molecule of glycerol attached to three molecules of fatty acids
• Bile


  • Made in the liver, stored in the gallbladder
  • Not an enzyme, but helps speed up lipid digestion by lipase
  • Converts large lipid droplets into smaller droplets (emulsifies)
  • Alkaline, neutralizes stomach acids
• Enzyme


  Speeds up chemical reactions by having a groove on their surface called the active site
• Substrate


  The molecule that the enzyme reacts with, fits perfectly into the active site
• Lock and key theory

  The substrate must fit perfectly into the active site
• Effect of temperature on enzyme activity

  1. Gradually increase temperature

  2. Measure enzyme activity (rate of reaction)

  3. Activity increases as temperature increases

  4. Reach optimum temperature

  5. Activity rapidly decreases past optimum temperature
• Optimum temperature


  The temperature at which the enzyme is working at the fastest possible rate, maximum frequency of successful collisions between substrate and active site
• Denaturation


  At high temperatures, the enzyme molecule vibrates and the shape of the active site changes, so the substrate no longer fits perfectly
• Effect of pH on enzyme activity

  1. Alter pH

  2. Measure enzyme activity (rate of reaction)

  3. Enzyme has an optimum pH where activity is maximum

  4. Activity drops to zero if pH is too acidic or too alkaline
• Optimum pH


  The pH at which the enzyme works best
• Enzymes with different optimum pH

  • Protease enzyme in stomach (acidic pH)
  • Lipase enzyme from pancreas (alkaline pH)
• Carrying out chemical tests for carbohydrates, proteins and lipids

  1. Grind food sample with distilled water using mortar and pestle to make a paste

  2. Transfer paste to beaker and add more distilled water

  3. Stir to dissolve chemicals

  4. Filter solution to remove suspended food particles
• Carbohydrates


  Include starch and sugars such as glucose
• Test for starch


  1. Place 2cm3 of food solution in test tube

  2. Add a few drops of iodine solution

  3. Blue-black colour indicates presence of starch

  4. Orange colour indicates no starch
• Test for sugars (e.g. glucose)

  1. Place 2cm3 of food solution in test tube

  2. Add 10 drops of Benedict's solution

  3. Heat test tube in hot water bath for 5 minutes

  4. Green colour = small amount of sugar

  5. Yellow colour = more sugar

  6. Brick red colour = a lot of sugar