Digestion

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/digestion

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What happens when we chew food?Chewing breaks food into smaller pieces, making it easier for enzymes to work. It also mixes food with saliva, which starts turning starch into simpler sugars.
2. Why does the stomach get very acidic?The stomach makes acid to help break down proteins and to kill germs. The acid also turns a harmless protein helper into the active enzyme pepsin.

Catabolism: The metabolic process of breaking down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.
Enzymes: Biological catalysts that speed up specific chemical reactions, like breaking down food.
Villi and Microvilli: Finger-like projections lining the small intestine that dramatically increase surface area for nutrient absorption.
Bile: A fluid produced by the liver that aids in fat digestion by emulsification.