The Digestive System

Nutrients

• The parts of food used by the body to grow and survive.

• A type of vitamin that is essential for health.

• A chemical compound that provides energy to the body.

• A process of breaking down food into smaller components.

What is digestion?

• The process of breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.

• The mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into small particles and molecules that the body can absorb and use.

• The process of converting food into energy through cellular respiration.

• The absorption of nutrients from the bloodstream into the cells.

Bicarbonate

• A substance created in the pancreas that neutralizes acids in chyme as it moves from the stomach into the small intestine.

• A type of enzyme that breaks down proteins in the stomach.

• A hormone produced by the liver that regulates blood sugar levels.

• A mineral that helps in the formation of bones and teeth.

Peristalsis

• The process of breaking down food into smaller pieces.

• The waves of muscle contractions that move food through the esophagus and the rest of the digestive tract.

• The absorption of nutrients in the small intestine.

• The secretion of digestive enzymes in the stomach.

Esophagus

• A muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

• A part of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

• An organ that produces insulin in the body.

• A type of muscle found in the heart.

What is the trachea?

• The tube that connects the pharynx to the bronchi in the lungs.

• A type of blood vessel in the heart.

• A muscle that aids in breathing.

• A part of the digestive system.

Pharynx

• A tubelike passageway at the top of the throat that receives air, food, and liquids.

• A muscular structure that helps in the production of sound.

• A part of the digestive system that absorbs nutrients.

• A chamber in the heart that pumps blood to the lungs.

Insulin

• A hormone made in the liver that regulates metabolism.

• A hormone made in the pancreas that balances blood sugar.

• A type of sugar found in the bloodstream.

• A protein that helps in muscle growth.

Tongue

• A muscle in your mouth that helps move food around to mix it with saliva and aids in swallowing the bolus.

• A bone that supports the structure of the mouth.

• An organ that produces digestive enzymes.

• A gland that secretes hormones into the bloodstream.

Epiglottis

• A muscle that helps in breathing.

• A flap of tissue that covers the entrance to the trachea each time you swallow.

• A part of the stomach that digests food.

• A type of cartilage in the ear.