Human Digestive System - Science Learning 4

What is digestive system?

Answer: A digestive system is a long tube of about 10 meters. Digestive system is important to insure that our body gets what is sufficient for it e.g. carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and fibres.

What is first step of digestive process?

Answer: The first step of the digestive process is chewing. Chewing takes place in mouth. In chewing, saliva combines with the bolus (a bite of food), the enzymes known as Amylase react on the bolus converting starch into 'maltose'. Saliva also helps in softening of the food.

After chewing where does food go?

Answer: After the chewing process, the bolus moves to the gullet or esophagus by waves of muscular contraction known as Peristalsis. Oesophagus is responsible for the transportation of food from mouth to stomach.

What happens to food in stomach?

Answer: In stomach, the food stays for a few hours. Our stomach can hold up to 1.5 liters of food. The food is mixed with gastric juice, this juice contains hydrochloric acid which kills bacteria and provides acidic medium for enzymes to work.

Which enzyme acts on food in stomach?

Answer: Enzymes known as Proteases act on food and digest proteins present in the food.