HUMAN

NUTRITION
 Food contains many nutrients for different
functions

Food had to be broken down from large particle

into small molecules so that it can be used in
many chemical reactions within the body.
HUMAN
NUTRITION Digestion
↓

the step wise breakdown of large food particles

into molecules that, small enough to enter the
body’s cells.
 Food is a source of energy
– most of the energy is provided through
the ingestion of carbohydrates and fats.

Importance Growth and repair of damaged tissues

– this requires ingestion of proteins
of food

Regulation of body processes (e.g. cellular

respiration and excretion)
– this requires ingestion of vitamins, water and
mineral salts.
Five main processes in nutrition

INGESTION – the food is taken in and enters the alimentary canal.

DIGESTION – food is exposed to mechanical and chemical processes that change

large food particles into molecules that, small enough to enter the body’s cells.

ABSORPTION – the end products of digestion are absorbed into the bloodstream.

ASSIMILATION – the cells absorb the nutrients from the blood and use it to build
new cell structures and compounds.

DEFEACATION (egestion) – the process through which undigested food and waste
material is removed from the body through the anus in the form of faeces.
NUTRITION AND DENTITION IN ANIMALS

1. Herbivores - animals that

feed on plant material e.g.
cattle, sheep, antelope
and giraffes

• Incisors are sharp to cut off

plant material
• No canines
• Premolars and molars are large
and flat to grind plant material.
2. Carnivores – animals that
feed on other animals e.g. lion,
leopard

Incisors have sharp ends to bite off

food.
Canines are long and strong to
pierce, kill and tear prey apart.
Premolars and molars have sharp
edges to cut off the food.
3. Omnivores – animals that eat
both plants and meat, e.g.
humans, pigs

Omnivores’ teeth are very similar to

those of carnivores, except that their
molars do not have such prominent
protrusions.

Both baboons and pigs possess well-

developed canines which are used
mainly for self defence and social
display (baboons)
Check your understanding
Study the following diagram and answer questions that follow.
 STRUCTURE OF THE DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM
(parts of the alimentary canal and associated organs)

Alimentary canal- a long

tubular structure that extends
throughout the body. It consists Accessory organs – includes
of the mouth and mouth cavity, the tongue, salivary glands,
pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gall bladder.
small intestine, large intestine
and anus.
The mouth

First part of the digestive system

Has teeth for chewing which break down food mechanically together with the:
Tongue- a muscular organ attached to the floor of the mouth which shapes it into a
bolus and pushes it towards the back of the mouth for swallowing.

Has saliva containing enzymes that break down starch through chemical
digestion.
 Salivary glands

• They produce saliva that moistens

the food
• The saliva contains an enzyme
amylase, that breaks down starch.
Teeth
• Found in the sockets of upper and lower jaws
• An adult had 32 teeth
• Thet cut, tear, and grind the food into smaller particles

Type of Function
teeth
Incisors Bite and hold the food

Canines Hold food in place and tear it off

Premolars Chew and grind the food

Molars Chew and grind the food Dental formula is [Link]

The pharynx
• The pharynx located at the back of the mouth cavity.
• It leads to two openings (oesophagus and trachea –wind pipe).
• During swallowing, the opening to the trachea is closed by a small leaf-shaped
cartilage structure called epiglottis which prevents food from entering the trachea and
choking a person.

The oesophagus
• The oesophagus is a hollow, muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach.
• It is located behind the trachea.
• If forces the bolus down to the stomach by peristalsis (muscular wave-like movements)
• Has goblet cells which secrets mucus, which serves as a lubrication to the walls for smooth passage of thr
bolus.
The stomach
• Sac-like organ that is located just
below the diaphragm
• Divided into three sections:
1. Fundus
2. Corpus
3. Pylorus
• It contains many muscular folds cold
rugae
• It secretes digestive juices which
contains enzymes and hydrochloric
acid (chemical digestion)
• The muscular walls of the stomach
mixes the bolus with gastric juices and
HCL to form chyme (mechanical
digestion)
Small intestines
• Long, muscular tube of approximately 5m to 6m in
length.
• It consists of three parts which are duodenum, jejunum
and ileum.
• Has layer of muscles in the walls that causes peristaltic
movements, which moves chyme along the large
intestines.
• Has glands (crypt of Lieberkühn and Brunner’s gland)
in the columnar epithelial cells which secrets digestive
juices
• Has finger-like projections of the mucosa (mucus
membrane) called villi.
• Villi increases the surface area for an increased
absorption of nutrients.
Structure and function of a VILLUS
Has a single layer of epithelial cells which has microvilli to
facilitate diffusion.

Has a lacteal to transport absorbed fats.

Has capillaries- for transport of absorbed nutrients

Has columnar epithelial cells that have many mitochondria

which provides energy for the active absorption of nutrients

Goblet cells have mucus which protects the villi and aids
absorption

Brunner’s glands secrete an alkaline mucus which lubricates

and protect the lining of the intestine against the acidic chyme
Large intestines
Extends from the ileum (upper bone of the
pelvis) to the anus.

It is attached to the abdominal wall.

Consist of caecum, colon and rectum which

ends with an opening, the anus.

The colon- contains bacteria which breaks

down undigested carbohydrates, methane and
carbon dioxide are released.
Undigested waste (faeces) is temporally
stored.
Liver
Largest gland in the body below the diaphragm.

Makes and secretes bile (bitter fluid that

emulsifies fat)

Converts excess glucose into glycogen (stored

fat)

Excess amino acids are broken down to form urea

(deamination)

Detoxifies harmful substances

Stores minerals (iron and copper)

Stores vitamin A. B12, D, E and K

Gall bladder

• Pear shapes pouch found in

the lower surface of the
liver.
• Stores bile.
Bile contains bile acid, which is
critical for digestion and absorption
of fats and fat-soluble vitamins in
the small intestine.
Pancreas
• A tongue-shaped gland located
just below the stomach.
It is composed of two types of cells:
1. Normal pancreatic cells -
secrete pancreatic juice with
enzymes which play a role in
digestion.
2. Islets of Langerhans - secrete
two hormones (insulin and
glucagon) which control the
blood glucose levels in the body.
DIGESTION
The breaking down of food into smaller molecules so that it can be absorbed.

• MECHANICAL DIGESTION
Mastication • Chewing process, food is broken down
• into smaller particles
• by the grinding action of teeth and jaws,
• It is mixed with saliva

Bolus formation • The tongue rolls the moistened food

• into a bolus
• which makes it easy to swallow

Swallowing • The bolus moves to down the pharynx

• into the oesophagus
Peristalsis of the : • Muscular contraction along the wall of the alimentary canal
Oesophagus • Causing the bolus to slide down to the stomach
Stomach
Intestines • Peristaltic movements in the stomach causes food to be mixed with gastric juice
• Food is churned into tiny particles

• Allows movement of food and its elimination (defeacation)

• Role of water in facilitating movement of food
o Acts as lubricant and facilitates chewing and swallowing
o Acts as solvent for digested food
o Transports digested food
o Medium in which digestive reactions occur
o Reagent for hydrolysis.

• Importance of roughage
o Promotes efficient cooperation of the alimentary canal
o Consist of plant cell material- cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and lignin
Sources of roughage:
raw and cooked vegetables, peanuts, and tree nuts. Whole wheat/brown bread, fresh and dried fruits.
Purpose:
o Prevents constipation
o Gives volume to waste material in the colon, stretching it, allowing it to move towards the rectum for
defaecation.
• CHEMICAL DIGESTION
o Breaking down of large food molecules into smaller molecules by the aid of enzymes.
o These enzymes are found in digestive juices:
Region Digestive juice Enzyme End product of
digestion
Mouth Saliva (amylase)

Pancreas Pancreatic juice (pancreatic amylase) Carbohydrase Carbohydrates

(monosaccharides)
Intestines Intestinal juice (maltase, sucrase,
lactase)
Stomach Gastric juice (pepsin, renin)

Pancreas Pancreatic juice (trypsin) Protease Proteins

(amino acids)

Pancreas Pancreatic juice

Lipase Fats or lipids
Small intestines Intestinal juice (glycerol and fatty
acids)
 • Glucose,amino acids, vitamins, mineral salts and water
are absorbed through the blood capillaries in the villi.
• Thecapillaries join to form large veins that eventually
open into the hepatic portal vein
Absorption • The hepatic portal vein transports the absorbed nutrients to the
transport and liver where most of the glucose is converted into glycogen and
stored.
assimilation of • Excess amino acids undergo deamination in the liver to form urea
and glucose.
absorbed
The urea is transported to the kidneys and excreted as
nutrients part of urine.
• The remaining glucose and amino acids leave the liver through the
hepatic veins and are transported to the heart and to the rest of the
body.
• The body cells absorb the required nutrients. This
process is known as assimilation.
HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL OF BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS

The pancreas has cells called islets of Langerhans

These cells secrete hormones insulin and glucagon.

Which regulate/control blood glucose levels .

DIABETES Symptoms:
• Frequent urination
• Blurred vision
diabetes mellitus
• Presence of glucose in urine (urine test)
is a disorder
• Thirst
caused by high
• Wounds that heal poorly or do not heal
blood glucose
levels and
Treatment and management:
pancreas
• Daily insulin injection
secreting less
• Regular exercise
insulin
• Maintaining normal body weight through a
balanced diet.