BIOD 121 (Portage): Module 2 Complete with Answers Verified and Graded 2024 Update

Digestion process of transforming food into basic nutrients that can be absorbed and used by the body Without the process, the nutrients we initially consume in food would be useless: digestion Before food even enters the mouth, a cascade of events involving the nervous system and a variety of hormones are set off based on a variety of stimulus: cognition, sound, odor, appearance, and taste cognition thoughts about food can start the flow of saliva sound hearing a description of the meal odor smells stimulate a hunger response and influence its taste appearance seeing the food taste begins as the food enters your mouth and also how it feels Once food enters the mouth it begins to break down into smaller units in both mechanical and chemical processes Mechanical process begins in the mouth with chewing peristalsis involuntary muscle contractions are used to move food mixtures along the tract Enzymes, acid, bile, and mucus chemical means the body has at its disposal to further aid in breaking down food enzymes proteins that catalyze (speed up) chemical reactions. They catalyze the chemical reactions required to break down food particles into smaller parts, which prepares the nutrients for absorption