Teen Health Course 3

Chapter 16: Your Body Systems

Student Web Activities Lesson 6: Digestion—Breaking It Down

Introduction

The path food takes through the human body is both complex and interesting. Each step is designed to break the food down into parts your body can use for energy, growth, and repair. At the Web site below you will learn about each step of the digestive process and have a chance to describe it yourself.

Link to explore: Kids Discovery:
http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/flash/body/pg000126.html

Directions

  • Start at “Your Digestive System” at the Kids Discovery Web site.
  • Read through the page about the digestive system.  You may also want to click on the link “Gross and Cool Body,” which will give you some additional information and ideas.  Take notes as you read.
  • When you finish reading, answer the questions below.
  • Finally, create a travel brochure that takes readers on a guided tour of the digestive system, starting in the mouth, moving down the esophagus and into the stomach, and on into the large and small intestines.  Try to point out things you think travelers would find especially interesting as you go.

1.
What is the first step in digestion?
2.
What is the muscle action that pushes food down the esophagus and through the intestines called?
3.
Where does the food go after it leaves the stomach?
4.
What structures in the small intestines absorb nutrients, and what do they look like?
5.
Why does the leftover food get smaller and dryer when it enters the large intestine?
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