Concept explainers
By clicking on this link (http://openstaxcollege.org/l/fooddigestion) , you can watch a short video of what happens to the food you eat as it passes from your mouth to your intestine. Along the way, note how the food changes consistency and form. How does this change in consistency facilitate your gaining nutrients from food?
To analyze:
The changes in consistency of food down the alimentary canal facilitate gaining nutrients from it.
Introduction:
Digestion is the act of breaking down of food into smaller molecules, by physical and chemical means, to release the nutrients present in them and render it in an absorbable form.
Explanation of Solution
The alimentary canal is aptly designed to convert complex food into simpler forms. This conversion not only breaks down food but also helps to extract the nutrients efficiently from all food that is consumed.
The physical, as well as chemical digestion process, begins right away in our mouth. The chewing of food called mastication mechanically shears the large chunks of food to smaller pieces. It then mixes with saliva to make it into a semi-solid paste called bolus that is easy to swallow. The salivary amylase marks chemical digestion of food by acting on starch. The water hydrates and dissolves much of the food. The mucus lubricates the food for swallowing.
As the food moves down the esophagus it reaches the stomach where the churning action continues to physically shear the bolus further to even smaller particle size. The acid and enzymes produced in the stomach chemically act on food to convert complex molecules into simpler forms. These processes convert the bolus to a form that is more fluid-like called the chyme.
Chyme moves down to the small intestine. The duodenum is the region of major chemical digestion with a host of enzymes acting on the chyme. Physical digestion occurs by the process of segmentation.
Finally, the small molecules in the form of glucose (from sugars), fatty acids and glycerols (from lipids and fats), amino acids (from proteins) and nucleic acids (from nucleoproteins) are released from food. Along with these minerals, electrolytes and vitamins are also rendered free for absorption in the small intestine. The continuous backlash movements along the microvilli on intestinal lumen help in absorption of all these nutrient molecules released from the food.
Had these series of processes to bring about a change in the consistency of ingested food not occurred, the food as a source of nutrients would have been meaningless.
Thus a change in consistency of food from largely sized bites to chewed semi-solid paste (bolus) and then to a fluid-like (chyme) consistency helps in both the movement of food down the alimentary canal and finally the absorption of their nutrients in the intestines.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 23 Solutions
Anatomy and Physiology by OpenStax
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach (3rd Edition)
Campbell Biology in Focus (2nd Edition)
Anatomy & Physiology (6th Edition)
Campbell Biology (11th Edition)
Human Anatomy & Physiology (2nd Edition)
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (3rd Edition)
- Imagine you are a botanist. Below are characteristics of a never-before described plant species recently identified as part of the ‘All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory’ (ATBI). Field Notes: Specimen collected from shaded area along stream in South Cumberland State Park (Grundy County, TN). Laboratory Analysis: Body: Large leaves emerging from underground rhizome. Size: 63 cm Chromosomal Analysis: Plant body is diploid—chromosome number of 44. Lignin test: Positive Cuticle: Present Leaves: Present—large with branched veins. Underside has sori (containing haploid spores). Roots: Present—branch from the inside. Stem: Present—vascular tissue (xylem & phloem) present. Life History: Diploid sporophyte dominant generation. Haploid spores germinate into heart-shaped, haploid, gametophyte. Water required for fertilization; no seed is produced. Diploid zygote develops into sporophyte. Explain which domain, kingdom and phylum you believe this plant should be classified…arrow_forwardCUÁ Glycine A C C Newly formed molecule Glycine Arginine Proline Alanine A C C CC G GGAUUGGUGGGGC Structure X I mRNAarrow_forwardAdaptations to a Changing Environment Why is it necessary for organisms to have the ability to adapt? Why is the current environment making it difficult for organisms like the monarch butterfly to adapt? Explain how organisms develop adaptations.arrow_forward
- Artificial Selection: Explain how artificial selection is like natural selection and whether the experimental procedure shown in the video could be used to alter other traits. Why are quail eggs useful for this experiment on selection?arrow_forwardDon't give AI generated solution otherwise I will give you downwardarrow_forwardHello, Can tou please help me to develope the next topic (in a esquematic format) please?: Function and Benefits of Compound Microscopes Thank you in advance!arrow_forward
- Identify the AMA CPT assistant that you have chosen. Explain your interpretation of the AMA CPT assistant. Explain how this AMA CPT assistant will help you in the future.arrow_forwardwhat is the difference between drug education programs and drug prevention programsarrow_forwardWhat is the formula of Evolution? Define each item.arrow_forward
- Define the following concepts from Genetic Algorithms: Mutation of an organism and mutation probabilityarrow_forwardFitness 6. The primary theory to explain the evolution of cooperation among relatives is Kin Selection. The graph below shows how Kin Selection theory can be used to explain cooperative displays in male wild turkeys. B When paired, subordinant males increase the reproductive success of their solo, dominant brothers. 0.9 C 0 Dominant Solo EVOLUTION Se, Box 13.2 © 2023 Oxford University Press rB rB-C Direct Indirect Fitness fitness fitness gain Subordinate 19 Fitness After A. H. Krakauer. 2005. Nature 434: 69-72 r = 0.42 Subordinant Dominant a) Use Hamilton's Rule to show how Kin Selection can support the evolution of cooperation in this system. Show the math. (4 b) Assume that the average relatedness among male turkeys in displaying pairs was instead r = 0.10. Could kin selection still explain the cooperative display behavior (show math)? In this case, what alternative explanation could you give for the behavior? (4 pts) 7. In vampire bats (pictured below), group members that have fed…arrow_forwardExamine the following mechanism and classify the role of each labeled species in the table below. Check all the boxes that applyarrow_forward
- Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (MindTap ...BiologyISBN:9781285866932Author:Lauralee SherwoodPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStax
- Comprehensive Medical Assisting: Administrative a...NursingISBN:9781305964792Author:Wilburta Q. Lindh, Carol D. Tamparo, Barbara M. Dahl, Julie Morris, Cindy CorreaPublisher:Cengage LearningHuman Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305112100Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning