1. The Digestive System
6th Grade

2. It starts in the MOUTH
Mastication: when your teeth break food into smaller pieces

3. Mouth: What is the purpose of the tongue?
Moves small pieces of food around so that saliva can be mixed with them
Helps push food to the back of the throat
Helps us taste our food so that eating food is enjoyable and desirable

4. Mouth: Why is saliva important?
Helps moisten food so that it is easier to digest and move through the body
Begins digesting carbohydrates

5. Parts of the Mouth

6. What is another name for the throat?
Pharynx = throat
2 functions of the throat:
To pass chewed food from the mouth to the esophagus
To pass air from the nose to the lungs
EPIGLOTTIS: a flap of tissue that keeps food from going into your windpipe

7. Esophagus Moves food from the throat to the stomach
Peristalsis: the muscle movement
Heartburn is when acid from your stomach gets into your esophagus

8. Stomach A storage tank for food
Contains hydrochloric acid that kills bacteria
Contains digestive enzymes to further break down food
Can stretch and shrink

9. Stomach

10. Small Intestine Much longer than the large intestine 1.5 inches wide
Nutrients from food pass into the bloodstream through the small intestine walls
By the time food leaves the small intestine, 90% of all nutrients have been extracted from the food

11. Liver Weighs about 3 pounds Produces bile which helps digest fat
Processes nutrients in the blood
Filters out harmful toxins

12. Gall Bladder Stores and recycles bile from the liver
Fatty diets can cause gallstones

13. Pancreas
Secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestines to help the chemical digestion of foods
Regulates blood sugar by producing insulin

14. Large Intestine
Takes the leftover parts of the food that the small intestines does not absorb
Absorbs water and vitamins B & K from the waste matter
Important because it prevents you from getting dehydrated

15. Rectum & Anus Rectum: stores feces
Anus: releases feces when rectum is full

16. On a sheet of paper, write the name of each colored organ:
Green:
Red:
Pink:
Brown:
Purple:
Yellow:

17. Answers! Green: Esophagus Red: Stomach Pink: Small Intestine
Brown: Large Intestine
Purple: Liver
Green: Gall Bladder
Yellow: Pancreas