Gastric glands in the stomach release hydrochloric acid, the protein-digesting enzyme pepsin, and mucus. These substances contribute to the breakdown of food and protect the stomach lining.
Tiwari Academy Discussion Latest Questions
Peristaltic movements are vital for the regulated movement of food along the digestive tube. Digestion in the stomach begins after the food is transported from the mouth through the food-pipe or esophagus.
The mouth “waters” when we eat something pleasant because it secretes saliva, a fluid that aids in the digestion and processing of food in the mouth.
Saliva, secreted by salivary glands, plays a role in wetting and processing food. It contains an enzyme called salivary amylase, which breaks down complex starch molecules into simple sugars.
Crushing food with our teeth is essential to generate small, uniformly textured particles, facilitating smooth passage through the digestive tract.
In Paramoecium, food is taken in at a specific spot facilitated by cilia movement covering the cell surface, unlike the entire surface feeding seen in Amoeba.
Amoeba takes in food through temporary extensions of the cell surface, forming a food vacuole. Complex substances inside the food vacuole are broken down into simpler ones, diffusing into the cytoplasm, and undigested material is expelled at the cell surface.
In single-celled organisms, such as Amoeba, food is taken in by the entire cell surface, while in more complex organisms, specialized parts of the digestive system perform different functions.
Cuscuta (amar-bel), ticks, lice, leeches, and tape-worms are examples of organisms using a parasitic nutritive strategy without killing their hosts.
The body design and functioning of organisms determine their ability to take in and break down specific food materials.