1. How does food change in consistency and form?
Food changes in consistency and form as it moves through the digestive system. Starting in the mouth, chewing breaks food down into smaller pieces, and salivary enzymes turn these pieces into a bolus. The bolus goes through the esophagus into the stomach, where chyme, a more fluid substance is formed from churring. As it travels through the small intestine, nutrients are absorbed, and in the large intestine, water absorption solidifies the chyme into feces.
2. How could the body absorb nutrients from the foods we eat?
After enzymes digest lipids, nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates, the small intestines folds, villi, and microvilli absorb these substances through diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, and active transport. The large intestine absorbs water, electrolytes, and ions left by the small intestine.