Digestive System Lesson

Digestive System

Open Ended

What comes to mind when you think about "delicious food"?

Food needs to be processed so the cells can use its energy and materials.
You need to eat a variety of food to get many kinds of nutrients.
The indigestible part of food is called dietary fiber.
Many kinds of food also contain water.

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Digestive System

The digestive system is a set of organs that breaks down food.
The organs form a tube where food is digested as it goes through the body.
This tube is called digestive tract or alimentary canal.
Mechanical digestion - food is crushed and torn down.
Chemical digestion - glands create chemicals called enzymes that break down the food.

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Digestive System

Nutrients from Food

It is broken down into glucose which the cells use for energy. Source: Bread, rice, pasta

Carbohydrates

They are used by our cells to do their jobs.
Source: Fruits, vegetables

Fiber, Vitamins, Minerals

​Helps to grow and repair cells.
Source: Meats, beans

Protein

Builds healthy bones and teeth.
Source: Dairy products

Calcium

Oils have lipids which our cells need.
Source - Fish, nuts

Oils

Mouth - teeth and saliva; the food is called a bolus.
Esophagus - squeezes the bolus to the stomach.
Stomach - churns and adds acids and enzymes. The liver adds bile. The bolus becomes chyme.
Small intestine - the pancreas and gallbladder add enzymes here. Nutrients absorbed by villi.
Large intestine - absorbs water; chyme is now feces.

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​Digestion

Open Ended

What are some simple things you can do to help your digestive system?

It is the collective term for the different chemical changes that occur as your body breaks down food and uses energy. It includes the building of new tissues.
Calorie - how the energy in food is measured. Extra calories are stored as fats.
Exercising to build more muscle makes you use more calories.
Metabolism can be fast or slow.

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Metabolism