Bio Assessment 1 Term 1

Biology assessment 1 term 1 2019 Digestion, Teeth, Cholera
A] Answer the following questions.

1] What is ingestion?
Ingestion is the taking in of substances for example, food and water, into the body
through the mouth.
2] What is Mechanical digestion?
The breakdown of food into smaller pieces without any chemical change to the
food molecules. Before being swallowed they have to bitten off and crushed into
smaller pieces by chewing. Those smaller pieces are easy to swallow and they
have a large surface area for enzymes to carry out chemical digestion.
3] What is chemical digestion?
The breakdown of large, insoluble molecules into small soluble molecules to be
absorbed through the blood stream. Many enzymes and chemicals are involved in
this such as hydrochloric acid and bile.
4] What is absorption?
This is the movement of small food molecules and ions through the wall of the
intestine into the blood.
5] What is assimilation?
This is the movement of digested food molecules into the cells of the body where
they are used, becoming part of the cells.
6] What is egestion?
This is the passing out of food that has not been digested or absorbed, as faeces,
through the anus.
7] What is the use of teeth in human nutrition?
Teeth is used to help with ingestion and mechanical digestion of the food we eat.
Teeth bite of pieces of food, they then chop, crush and grind them into smaller
pieces thus giving the food a larger surface area which therefore make it easier
for enzymes to work on the food in the digestive system. In addition, it helps the
soluble parts dissolve. The part of the tooth embedded into the gum is known as
the root. The part that can be seen is known as the crown. The crown is covered
Turissa Sullivan S41
with the enamel. Enamel is the hardest substance made by animals, it is very
difficult to break or chip but however it can be dissolved by acids. Bacteria feeds
on sweet foods left on the teeth, this creates acids which then dissolves the
enamel this is what leads to decay. Under the enamel there is a layer called the
dentine, this is rather like bone. It is hard but not as hard as dentine. Dentine
contains channels with living cytoplasm. In the middle of a tooth there is the pulp
cavity, this contains nerves and blood vessels which supply the dentine with food
and oxygen. The root of the tooth is covered with cement which has fibers
growing out of it. These attach the tooth to the jawbone but allow it to move
slightly when biting or chewing.
8] Explain the different types of teeth?
We have four types of teeth.
Incisors are the sharp- edged, chisel-shaped teeth at the front of the mouth. They
are used for biting off pieces of food. We have 8, 4 on each jaw.
Canines are the long, sharp and more pointed teeth at either side of the incisors.
4 are present, 2 on each jaw. They are used for the tearing of the food.
Premolars and molars are the large teeth towards the back of the mouth. They
are used for chewing and grinding food into smaller pieces. In humans the ones
right at the back is known as the wisdom teeth, they don’t grow till much later in
the persons development then the rest. Molars are larger than premolars and 12
are present and they have 4 or more cusps. However, premolars only have 1 or 2
cusps.
Mammals unlike other animals have 2 sets of teeth, the first set is called the milk
teeth also known as the deciduous teeth. In human these start to grow through
the gum, one or two at a time when the child is about 5 months old and by the
age of 24 to 30 months most children have a set of about 20 teeth. The first set
starts to fall out when the child is about 7 years old. Twenty teeth will replace the
ones which fall out with the addition of also another 12 teeth. This makes the
permanent complete set of 32 teeth altogether. This is usually completed by the
age of 17.
9] Explain dental decay?

If sugar is left on the teeth, bacteria in the plaque will feed on it. The bacteria uses
it in respiration changing it into acid. Tooth decay as well as gum diseases are
common problems both caused by bacteria. There are large amounts of bacteria
living in our mouth most of which are harmless. However, some of these bacteria
together with substances from your saliva, form a sticky film over your teeth,
especially next to your gums and in between you’re your teeth. This is called
plaque. Plaque is soft and easy to remove at first but if it is left to harden it then
forms tartar which cannot be removed by brushing. The acid produced will
dissolve the enamel and dentine thus forming cavities. The acids irritate the nerve
endings in the pulp and cause toothache.
10] Explain gum disease.
If plaque is not removed, the bacteria might infect the gums. The gums swell,
become inflamed and may bleed when you brush your teeth. It is usually painless
but if you allow the bacteria to spread, they may work down around the root of
the tooth. This makes the tooth loose and needs removing.
11] How to prevent tooth decay and gum disease?
 Don’t eat too much sugar.
 Use a fluoride toothpaste regularly. Since fluoride makes teeth more
resistant to decay.
 Visit the dentist regularly.
 Brush your teeth, this prevents gum disease.
12] What is the alimentary canal?
This is a long tube which runs from the mouth to the anus. It is a part in the
digestive system. The digestive system also includes the liver and pancreas. The
wall of the alimentary canal contains muscles, which contract and relax to make
food move along. This movement is called peristalsis. At times it is necessary to
keep food in one part of the alimentary canal for a while, before it is allowed to
move to the next part. This is done by sphincter muscles, they can close the tube
completely in certain places. To help food slide easily in the alimentary canal it is
lubricated with mucus. Mucus is made in goblet cells which occur along the
alimentary canal. Each part of the alimentary canal has a part to play in digestion,
egestion and absorption.

13] Explain the role of the mouth in digestion?

In the mouth starch is converted to maltose by salivary amylase found in saliva. In
the mouth a neutral 7pH is required. In the mouth food is ingested using our
teeth, lips and tongue. The teeth bite or grind the food into smaller pieces thus
increasing surface area. Saliva acts as a lubricant and sticks the food pieces
together thus making pellets of food called bolus. Saliva is made in the salivary
glands, it is a mixture of water, mucus and even amylase. The water helps to
dissolve substances in the food helping us to taste them. Mucus helps the chewed
food to bind together forming a bolus and lubricates it making it easily slide down
the Oesophagus when it is swallowed. Amylase is used to digest starch in the food
to the sugar maltose. This usually doesn’t get to finish in the mouth since food is
not left in the mouth for long. However, if you chew something starchy for
example bread for a long time, you will be able to taste the sugar maltose.
14] What is the role of the Oesophagus in digestion?
There are 2 tubes leading from the back of the mouth. The one in front is called
the trachea also known as windpipe, this takes air down to the lungs. Behind the
trachea is the Oesophagus, this takes food to the stomach. When we swallow a
piece of cartilage called the epiglottis covers the entrance of the trachea. This
helps to stop food from going down to the lungs. In the Oesophagus starch
digestion continues. The bolus of food is moved down the Oesophagus(gullet) by
the movement of peristalsis. The entrance to the stomach from the gullet is
guarded by a ring of sphincter muscles. The muscles relax to let food pass through
the stomach.
15] What is the role of the stomach in digestion?
The stomach has strong muscular walls. The stomach wall secretes gastric juice
which contain the enzyme pepsin, Pepsin breaks down proteins into Polypeptides
in the stomach. Acids provide an optimum pH for pepsin. Hydrochloric acid is also
made by the stomach wall it has pH 2. Starch digestion in the stomach doesn’t
take place due to low pH in the stomach. Microorganisms such as bacteria are
taken along with the food and are killed by the acid, their enzymes become
denatured. In the stomach the acids are inactive this is because it would eat the
stomach wall if it was active. In babies stomach Rennin is present to cloth the
milk, it is broken down by pepsin. The muscles contract and relax to churn foods
and mix it with the enzymes, mucus and gastric juices. The churning and mixing
action is similar to the work done in a washing machine. The mixture formed is
called Chyme. The stomach can store food for a long time. After 1 to 2 hours, the
sphincter at the bottom of the stomach opens up and lets the chyme into the
duodenum.
15] What is the role of the Duodenum in digestion?
This is a part of the small intestine. Several enzymes are secreted into the
duodenum. They are made by the pancreas, which is a cream-colored gland that
lies under the stomach. A tube called the pancreatic duct leads from the pancreas
to the duodenum. Pancreatic juice is the fluid which is made by the pancreas. This
flows along the pancreatic duct. Pancreatic fluid contains many enzymes such as
amylase, protease and lipase. Amylase breaks down starch to maltose. Trypsin is a
protease which breaks down proteins into polypeptides. Lipase breaks down fat
into fatty acids and glycerol. These enzymes don’t work well in acidic
environments but the Chyme contains Hydrochloric acid and pancreatic juice
contains sodium hydrogencarbonate which neutralizes the acid. Apart of
pancreatic juice another fluid is found in the Duodenum, this is bile. Bile is a
yellowish green alkaline made in the liver that helps to neutralize the acidic
conditions from the stomach. After being made in the liver it is stored in the Gall
bladder. Bile doesn’t contain any enzymes however it helps to digest fat into small
fat droplets in order for lipase to break that down into fatty acids and glycerol.
This is called emulsification( a type of mechanical digestion) and it is done by salts
in bile called bile salts. Bile also contains yellowish bile pigments that break down
old red blood cells. These are made from haemoglobin. These are not needed in
the body so it is eventually excreted by faeces.
16] What is the role of the Villi in digestio


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Biology assessment 1 term 1 2019 Digestion, Teeth, Cholera

A] Answer the following questions.

Turissa Sullivan S41

Turissa Sullivan S41

13] Explain the role of the mouth in digestion?

Turissa Sullivan S41

Turissa Sullivan S41

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