Food & Digestion Glossary
Year Eight
Definitions of all the components of the digestive system.
Tongue: The Tongue is a muscular, flexible flap fixed inside the mouth which allows us to taste food and pronounce certain letters.
Liver: A flat, triangular organ tucked under the ribcage. It produces chemicals to burn fat and creates protein. It also disarms poisonous substances in the blood.
Stomach: A large, muscular bog where food is stored to wait for further digestion, while being churned and moistened in preparation.
Gall Bladder: An organ that collects and stores the bile from the liver until it is needed.
Pancreas: A sock shaped organ which produces digestive enzymes and bodily hormones.
Small intestine: In here, food is flushed with bile and digestive juices to break down and release the nutrients into the intestine wall.
Large Intestine: A long, winding tube in which the remains of the food are broken down by bacteria, leaving only waste material.
Appendix: A small tubular organ which serves no apparent function other than to cause problems.
Rectum: This regulates the movement of waste matter.
Salivary Glands: These produce saliva, which helps to break down food in the mouth, allowing the body to swallow it.
Anus: The hole at the end of the digestive system through which faeces are ejected.
Originally written September 2010 by Robin Taylor. Scored at B.