Learning Outcomes
i. Comprehend the stages of the human digestive process.
ii. Recognize the purpose of each digestive stage: ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion.
Summary of Lesson
In this lesson, we'll track the pathway of food through the human body, identifying the key stages of our digestive system. We'll explore why each stage is crucial for our survival and how they work together to keep us nourished and healthy.
i. Ingestion: The First Bite
- What Is Ingestion?: Eating or taking food into the body through the mouth.
- Why We Need to Eat: To get the energy and nutrients necessary for survival.
ii. Digestion: Breaking It Down
- The Breakdown: Digestion involves breaking food down into smaller pieces.
- Mechanical vs. Chemical Digestion: Chewing versus enzymes breaking down food.
iii. Absorption: Taking In the Good Stuff
- The Transfer: Absorbed nutrients move from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.
- The Destination: Nutrients are carried to cells around the body.
iv. Assimilation: Becoming Part of Us
- The Integration: Assimilated nutrients become new cell parts or energy.
- The Building and Repair: Nutrients help build and repair body tissues.
v. Egestion: Waste Not
- The Exit: Egestion is the process of removing indigestible substances.
- The Cleanup: Keeping the body clean from the inside out.
List of Important Questions for Self-Study
- i. What are the main functions of ingestion?
- ii. How does digestion differ from absorption?
- iii. What role does assimilation play in the body?
- iv. Why is egestion a vital digestive process?
Important Terminologies Used in Lesson
i. Digestive System: The organs and glands in the body that are responsible for digestion.
ii. Enzymes: Proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body, such as those that break down food.
iii. Nutrients: The parts of food that the body can use for energy, growth, and cell repair.
iv. Waste: Material left over after the body has taken the nutrients it needs from food.