7.2.1

What is Digestion?

Test yourself

What is Digestion?

In order to grow, humans and other animals need key nutrients from their food. Key nutrients are things like fats, proteins and simple sugars. We get the nutrients through the process of digestion.

Illustrative background for DigestionIllustrative background for Digestion ?? "content

Digestion

  • The nutrients that humans and animals need are often ‘locked-up’ in larger pieces of food.
  • These nutrients need to be broken down so they can be absorbed into the body.
Illustrative background for DigestionIllustrative background for Digestion ?? "content

Digestion

  • Digestion is the process of breaking down and absorbing nutrients.

The Digestive System

The digestive system is one long tube that is coiled up inside our bodies.

Illustrative background for Location of the digestive systemIllustrative background for Location of the digestive system ?? "content

Location of the digestive system

  • The digestive system goes from the mouth to the anus.
    • 'Anus' is the word scientists use for our bottoms.
Illustrative background for Length of the digestive systemIllustrative background for Length of the digestive system ?? "content

Length of the digestive system

  • The tube can be up to 9 metres long.

Jump to other topics

1Year 3: Plants

1.1Types of Plants

1.1.1Flowering & Non-flowering Plants

1.2Parts of a Plant

1.2.1Roots

1.2.2What do Roots do?

1.2.3Stem

1.2.4Leaves

1.2.5How Leaves Make Food

1.2.6Flowers

1.3Pollination

1.3.1Pollination

1.3.2Pollination by Insects

1.3.3Pollination by the Wind

1.4Seeds

1.4.1Types of Seeds

1.4.2Dispersing Seeds

2Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)

2.1Food

2.1.1The Need for Food

2.1.2Food Groups

2.1.3Carbohydrates

2.1.4Proteins

2.1.5Dairy

2.1.6Fruit & Vegetables

2.1.7Fats

2.1.8Junk Food

2.2Skeletons & Muscles

2.2.1Skeletons & Muscles

2.2.2Healthy Bones

3Year 3: Rocks

3.1Rocks on Earth

3.1.1Rocks

3.1.2Fossils

4Year 3: Light

4.1What is Light?

4.1.1Light as Energy

4.1.2Reflections

4.1.3Sunlight

4.1.4Shadows

5Year 3: Forces & Magnets

5.1Forces

5.1.1What is a Force?

5.1.2Contact & Non-Contact Forces

5.1.3Testing Magnetic Materials

5.1.4Attracting & Repelling Magnets

5.1.5Uses of Magnets

6Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats

6.1Grouping Animals

6.1.1Biodiversity & Classification

6.1.2Grouping Animals

6.2Vertebrates

6.2.1Vertebrates

6.2.2Mammals

6.2.3Reptiles

6.2.4Fish

6.2.5Amphibians

6.2.6Birds

6.3Invertebrates

6.3.1Invertebrates

6.3.2Insects

6.3.3Spiders

6.3.4Slugs & Snails

6.3.5Worms

6.4Grouping Plants

6.4.1Grouping Plants

6.4.2Flowering Plants

6.4.3Non-Flowering Plants

6.5Classification Keys

6.5.1Classification Keys

6.6Environmental Change

6.6.1Positive Impact of Humans on the Environment

6.6.2Negative Impact of Humans: Deforestation

6.6.3Negative Impact of Humans: Litter

6.6.4Negative Impact of Humans: Overpopulation

7Year 4: Animals, Including Humans

7.1Teeth

7.1.1Why Do We Need Teeth?

7.1.2'Baby' Teeth

7.1.3Adult Teeth

7.1.4Incisors

7.1.5Canines

7.1.6Premolars

7.1.7Molars

7.2Digestion

7.2.1What is Digestion?

7.2.2The Digestive System - The Mouth

7.2.3The Digestive System - The Stomach

7.2.4The Digestive System - The Small Intestines

7.2.5The Digestive System - The Large Intestines

7.3Food Chains

7.3.1What are Food Chains?

7.3.2Producers, Predators & Prey

7.3.3Herbivores & Carnivores

8Year 4: States of Matter

8.1The 3 States of Matter

8.1.1States of Matter

8.1.2Changes of State

8.2The Water Cycle

8.2.1The Water Cycle

8.2.2Evaporation at Different Temperatures

9Year 4: Sound

9.1How Do I Hear?

9.1.1What is Sound?

9.1.2Sound Travels to Your Ear

9.2Pitch

9.2.1Pitch

9.3Volume

9.3.1Volume

9.3.2How Distance Affect Volume

10Year 4: Electricity

10.1Uses of Electricity

10.1.1What Uses Electricity?

10.2Conductors & Insulators

10.2.1Electrical Conductors

10.2.2Electrical Insulators

10.3Making Circuits

10.3.1What is a Circuit?

10.3.2Complete Circuits

10.3.3Electrical Safety

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

Molars

The Digestive System - The Mouth