IB HL Biology

Christopher Wong

Digestion Review Questions

2. Describe how the structure of the stomach enables it to
function in both mechanical and chemical digestion of food.
Include a discussion of the specialized cells present in the
stomach.
The stomach is a j-shaped organ. The muscular, thick walls
mechanically churn the food in stomach juices composed of mucus,
enzymes, and acid. The stomach juices are the chemical part of
digestion. Mucus secreting cells activate to protect the surface of the
stomach from self-digesting. Parietal cells produce hydrochloric acid,
which kill bacteria and microorganisms from the food. Hydrochloric
acid also convert pepsinogen, a protease enzyme secreted by chief
cells, into pepsin. The structure of the stomach along with its
specialized cells allows food to be mixed with stomach juices making
digestion effective.
3. Explain how the structure of both the small and large
intestine make them suitable for the absorption of nutrients
and water from food.
The structure of the small intestine is effective in absorbing the
maximum amount of nutrients from food. The small intestine is
constructed in three sections, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Partially
digested food, chyme, enters the duodenum and bile from the gall
bladder and liver is released to neutralize the acid and emulsify fats.
Pancreatic enzymes are released into the next section of the small
intestines, the jejunum. Ileum is the last stage of the small intestine.
After the previous two stages of various enzymes, the chyme is ready
to be further absorbed of food molecules. Villi, finger-like projections,
absorb the digested food molecules. On the villi is an outer layer of
columnar epithelial cells that contain microvilli. This is essential to
digestion as the villi and microvilli increase the surface area of the
small intestine, allowing for greater absorption of nutrients.
The structure of the large intestine is also effective in absorbing water
and nutrients. The large intestine is folded many times increasing its
surface area. With a greater surface area, the large intestine functions
to absorb the maximum amount of obtainable water and nutrients
before egestion. The large intestine is the host of many anaerobic
bacteria. These bacteria also help to break down non-digestible food
molecules and share a symbiotic relationship with the body by
producing vitamins and minerals to be absorbed.

IB HL Biology
Christopher Wong
4. Within the small intestine, where specifically are nutrient
molecules absorbed and taken to either the circulatory or
lymphatic systems?
Nutrient molecules are absorbed by the villi of the small intestine.
Blood vessels in the villi absorb nutrients, sugars, and amino acids.
Other food molecules such as fatty acids and glycerol are absorbed in
the lacteal and are delivered to the circulatory or lymphatic system.
5. Propose how nutrients, once broken down, might be
absorbed into the blood stream and/or lymphatic system.
Broken down nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream and
lymphatic system through the villi. The villi are littered with blood
vessels, which allows for nutrients to enter the blood stream. This is
done through enzymes that break down larger molecules to smaller
absorbable molecules.
6. What are Peyers patches?
Peyers patches are organized lymphoid nodules. These lymphoid
tissues distinguish the ileum from the duodenum and the jejunum.
Peyers patches are elongated thickenings of the intestinal epithelium.
Under a microscope, these patches appear as an oval. The function of
Peyers patches is crucial to the immune system. The lumen of the
gastrointestinal tract is susceptible to pathogenic organisms. The
patches contain specialized cells called microfold cells that sample
antigens from the lumen and deliver it to antigen-presenting cells. The
memory cells memorize these samples and each time the antigen is
found present in the body, the immune system is activated and the
antigens are found and destroyed.
7. What are the differences and similarities between the small
and large intestine?
Small Intestines
Most of food
particles are
broken down or
digested
Nutrients are
absorbed by the
body
Divided into
several portions:

Large Intestines
Feces is stored
Contains
undigested food
and some fluids
Has more main
regions: cecum,
colon, rectum, and
anal canal
Production of some

Similarities
Long continuous
tubes
Made of the same
kind of muscle
Digest food
Part of the
digestive track
Lined with mucus

IB HL Biology
Christopher Wong

duodenum,
jejunum, and ileum
Much longer than
the large intestine
Contains villi and
microvilli

vitamin B and K
Absorption of
water, vitamins,
and ions
Wider than the
small intestine