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Food provides animals with energy and essential nutrients for growth
A healthy diet contains more
carbohydrates than fats
It also contains a lot of
proteins
Vitamins
Essential organic substances required in small amounts
Humans require at least 13 different vitamins
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) if not in diet, the disease scurvy will develop
Evolution of the Digestive System
Digestive System Overview
Mucosa
Epithelium
Submucosa
Connective tissue
Muscularis
Smooth muscles
Serosa
Connective tissue
Breaking Down Food in the Mouth
Many vertebrates have teeth that are used for chewing (mastication)
Carnivores have
pointed teeth
adapted for cutting
and shearing
Herbivores have
large flat teeth well
suited for grinding
plant cellulose
Omnivores have
carnivorous teeth in
front and herbivorous
teeth in the back
The Structure of a Tooth
Tooth and Gum Disease: Periodontitis
Prior to swallowing, the tongue moves food to the back of the mouth
The soft palate elevates, pushing against back wall of pharynx
This stimulates neurons to send impulses to the swallowing center in
the brain
Muscles contract and raise the larynx
The glottis is pushed against the epiglottis which keeps food out of the
respiratory tract, and into the esophagus
The Esophagus and Stomach
Hepatocytes’
functions include:
Production of bile
Processing
bloodborne
nutrients
Storage of fat-
soluble vitamins
Detoxification
Secreted bile flows
between hepatocytes
toward the bile ducts in
the portal triads
When levels are high, insulin is When levels are low, glucagon
released is released