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| Food enters the body via the organ where it is chewed. This action helps to break up the food enabling it to be swallowed and enter the oesophagus. The chewing action also releases enzymes which help to break down the food in preparation for the digestion process. |
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| is the first section of the digestive tract which conveys ingested food and drink from the mouth to the stomach. This is partially under the effect of gravity but also as a result of the continuous contraction and relaxation of the muscular wall of the oesophagus. |
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Definition
| continuous contraction and relaxation of the muscular wall of the oesophagus. |
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| Is a muscular j-shaped "bag" which acts as a receptacle for food and fluids after ingestion. Food is then churned around and mixed with gastric juices, a mixture of acid, enzymes and other materials, which starts to break down food into smaller particles in order to make digestion easier. The enzymes in particular area are responsible for the breakdown and digestion of proteins. |
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| This is, in fact, the longest section of the digestive tract and consists of the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum. It is very important as it is the major site of digestion of food and subsequent absorption of essential nutrients which the body needs to function efficiently. |
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| is the final section of the digestive tract. Indigestible food remains and fluid pass from the small intestine into this site where one of the most important processes involves the absorption of water through its wall and into the bloodstream. Therefore, as material passes through it becomes progressively drier and more solid in consistency, and the waste matter forms into faeces, or "stools". |
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| This is essentially a storage reservoir at the end of the large intestine and adjacent to the anus for accumulating the faeces prior to elimination from the body |
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| is the opening at the end of the digestive tract which allows waste matter to pass through into the outside world. |
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| A process largely carried out by enzymes and takes place in the mouth, stomach and the small intestine |
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| produces bile, a substance that helps the break down of fat to increase its surface area for enzyme work. |
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| stores bile and releases it into the small intestine during digestion |
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Definition
| The passage of digested food through the gut wall into the bloodstream. |
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| taking food into the body. Animals employ a variety of feeding mechanisms depending upon the nature of their food. |
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| the physical breaking up of food by our teath and churning movement in the stomach. |
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| the elimination of undigested food from the body, mainly plant cell wall material such as cellulose. |
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