Question

Trace a morsel of food through the digestive system. Beginning with its ingestion at the mouth, list all of the parts of the digestive system through which the morsel will pass, and explain what happens to the morsel in each part of the system. Include all of the following key terms: stomach, large intestines, small intestines, esophagus, mouth, pancreas, liver, gall bladder, digestion, absorption, proteins, carbohydrates, fats.

Answer 1

A morsel of food enters the digestive system via the mouth, gets broken down in the stomach, digested in the small intestines with the help of the pancreas, liver, and gall bladder, and the remaining waste is then processed in the large intestines for excretion.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tracing a Morsel of Food Through the Digestive System

When a morsel of food is ingested at the mouth, it is mechanically broken down by the teeth and chemically by enzymes in the saliva. The food then travels down the esophagus via peristalsis to the stomach where it is mixed with acidic gastric juices that begin the digestion of proteins. After the stomach, food enters the small intestines , where most of the digestion and absorption occur. The pancreas contributes enzymes that further break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The liver produces bile, stored in the gall bladder which aids in fat digestion. The remaining undigested food then moves to the large intestines, where water is absorbed, and the waste is eventually excreted.