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glossary
Absorption
process in which food molecues are absorbed through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream to be distributed throughout the body
Arteries
muscular walled blood vessels that carry blood away from the hear (mostly carries oxygenated blood)
Assimilation
process in which nutrients are converted into the fluids/substances of the body
Capillaries
fine branching blood vessels
Canines
narrow pointed teeth found in most carnivores
Carnivore
an animal that primarily eats other animals
Carbohydrates
food type that is a polymer made up of sugar monomers that provide energy to cells
Colon
also called the large intestine
Deoxygenated
without oxygen
Digestion
process of food/macromolecules being brokendown into smaller parts. includes both chemical and mechanical digestion
Duodenum
first part of the small intestine and the site of chemical digestion
Epiglottis
flap of cartilage that covers the glottis/opening to the trachea during swallowing
Frugivore
animal that primarily eats fruit
Glucose
six carbon sugar used as the source of energy in cellular respiration
Herbivore
animals that primarily eat vegetation and plant materials
Ileum
lower part of the small intestines primary site for absorption
Incisors
front teeth in humans with a chisel like shape used for cutting food
Ingestion
process of food being taken into the body
Insectivore
animal that primarily consumes insects
Jejunum
Lactase
enzyme involved in the breakdown of lactose
Lactose
sugars found in milk
Lipids
polymers that are made of fatty acids, e.g. fats and oils
Molars
large flat teeth at the back of the mouth used to grind food
Niche
the role that an animal or plant species plays in the environment
Oesophagus
muscular lined tube in the nutrition system that carries food from mouth to the stomach through peristalsis
Omnivore
animal that eats both animal and plant materials
Oxygenated
with oxygen
Peptide
compound that forms proteins and is made of amino acids
Peristalsis
wave-like contractions of the oesophageal muscles that push food from the mouth to the stomach
Proteins
nutrient that is a polymer composed of peptides
Respiration (cellular)
procress in which cells produce usable energy from glucose and oxygen. carbon dioxide and water are waste products.
Sphincter
ring-shaped constricted muscles that relax to allow substances to pass through the tube e.g. lower oesophageal sphincter
Stomach
a sac-like organ where food is stored and digestion takes place
Veins
blood vessels that carry blood to the heart (blood is mainly deoxygenated)
Villi (pl.)
small finger like projections that line the lumen of the small intestines to increase surface area to allow maximum absorption of nutrients
process in which food molecues are absorbed through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream to be distributed throughout the body
Arteries
muscular walled blood vessels that carry blood away from the hear (mostly carries oxygenated blood)
Assimilation
process in which nutrients are converted into the fluids/substances of the body
Capillaries
fine branching blood vessels
Canines
narrow pointed teeth found in most carnivores
Carnivore
an animal that primarily eats other animals
Carbohydrates
food type that is a polymer made up of sugar monomers that provide energy to cells
Colon
also called the large intestine
Deoxygenated
without oxygen
Digestion
process of food/macromolecules being brokendown into smaller parts. includes both chemical and mechanical digestion
Duodenum
first part of the small intestine and the site of chemical digestion
Epiglottis
flap of cartilage that covers the glottis/opening to the trachea during swallowing
Frugivore
animal that primarily eats fruit
Glucose
six carbon sugar used as the source of energy in cellular respiration
Herbivore
animals that primarily eat vegetation and plant materials
Ileum
lower part of the small intestines primary site for absorption
Incisors
front teeth in humans with a chisel like shape used for cutting food
Ingestion
process of food being taken into the body
Insectivore
animal that primarily consumes insects
Jejunum
Lactase
enzyme involved in the breakdown of lactose
Lactose
sugars found in milk
Lipids
polymers that are made of fatty acids, e.g. fats and oils
Molars
large flat teeth at the back of the mouth used to grind food
Niche
the role that an animal or plant species plays in the environment
Oesophagus
muscular lined tube in the nutrition system that carries food from mouth to the stomach through peristalsis
Omnivore
animal that eats both animal and plant materials
Oxygenated
with oxygen
Peptide
compound that forms proteins and is made of amino acids
Peristalsis
wave-like contractions of the oesophageal muscles that push food from the mouth to the stomach
Proteins
nutrient that is a polymer composed of peptides
Respiration (cellular)
procress in which cells produce usable energy from glucose and oxygen. carbon dioxide and water are waste products.
Sphincter
ring-shaped constricted muscles that relax to allow substances to pass through the tube e.g. lower oesophageal sphincter
Stomach
a sac-like organ where food is stored and digestion takes place
Veins
blood vessels that carry blood to the heart (blood is mainly deoxygenated)
Villi (pl.)
small finger like projections that line the lumen of the small intestines to increase surface area to allow maximum absorption of nutrients