Note: What is a system?: A system is made up of smaller parts that work together to complete a function, or task. Without any of these parts, the system may not be able to function properly or at all.
There are many interactions between the ecosystem and the digestive system.
An example of the ecosystem and digestive system interacting is throughout the process of digestion which involves the breakdown of the three major nutrients from the ecosystem. These three major nutrients are fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Fat has many functions that would not be completed if the ecosystem did not provide us with fat. The functions of fat are: fat molecules make up the structure of cells, fat is a source of energy, fat provides insulation, fat acts as padding, fat transports some vitamins throughout the body, and fats are used in the production of several hormones. Fat is stored in specialized fat cells that form fat tissue and can be used for additional energy if necessary. The way the ecosystem provides us with fat is through producers and consumers. Producers provide protein foods such as nuts and seeds that contain a lot of fat. Consumers provide fats in the form of meat and dairy products. Protein has many functions too, which are: protein molecules are part of the structure of cells, protein makes up other structures such as bones, hair, and fingernails, enzymes are proteins, proteins make up antibodies, and protein can be used for energy. The ecosystem provides proteins in many ways. It is good to know, though, that all foods contain some protein since plant and animals cells need protein. Producers in the ecosystem provide protein in the form of grains and wheats, which are high in protein, and vegatables and fruits which are low in protein. Consumers in the ecosystem provide a lot of protein because animals, like humans, need protein. Consumers provide protein in the form of meat and dairy products. Carbohydrates, the third major nutrient, are made up of sugar, starch, and fiber, and have many functions also. Sugar and starch are energy sources, fiber helps food move through the digestive tract, carbohydrates make up the structure of cells, and foods that supply starches also supply other nutrients like vitamins and minerals. The ecosystem provides sugar in the form of many different types of sugar. Sugar can be found in grapes, fruits, candies, syrups, and many other foods. The ecosystem provides fiber in the form of grains, nuts, apples, broccoli, carrots and other foods. Starches are provided by the ecosystem in the form of potatoes, pumpkins, grains, and other foods. As you can see, the three major nutrients play important roles in bodies. If it weren't for the ecosystem providing these nutrients, and the process of digestion in the body taking place, our bodies and animal's bodies wouldn't be able to absorb and use these nutrients for the many functions they have. This leads to how the digestive system breaks down these nutrients. The diagram below shows the parts of the digestive system and gives basic descriptions for what and how they break down nutrients.
Its easiest to think about in terms of a journey. Imagine: A human bites down with her teeth on a piece of chicken, she grinds it in her mouth until it is in small enough pieces to travel down her esophagus. In the mouth, enzymes in saliva break down the starch molecules of the chicken into sugar molecules which are smaller.
Once in the stomach, the chicken is churned and broken up into even smaller pieces, and all the while stomach juices are released from the lining of the stomach. The stomach juice is made up of water, enzymes, and acid. The enzymes break the proteins from the chicken into amino acids. The acid from the stomach juice provides the environment that the enzymes need to work.
Once the food enters the small intestine, the foods are completely broken down. Fats are broken down into even smaller molecules and proteins continue to be digested into amino acids. Then these molecules diffuse into the highly folded lining of the small intestine and from there diffuse into blood vessels. Other parts of the digestive system also do other things, such as the pancreas, which releases pancreatic juice to neutralize stomach acids and also contains ezymes that digest nutrients,
the liver, which produces bile to break down fat into small dropets, and the gallbladder which stores the bile.
In the large intestine, water is absorbed and feces are stored until excretion out the anus. From eating the chicken piece that came from the ecosystem, the human gained important nutrients and also was able to get rid of any waste from eating the chicken.
That waste will be decomposed by decomposers in the ecosystem, releasing carbon dioxide, water and nutrients. The carbon dioxide, water and nutrients, along with energy from the sun, will allow producers to grow throrugh the process of photsynthesis, and for chickens to eat the plant. With another healthy chicken around, the human can eat the chicken and go through the whole process over again.
If you're interested in going to an easy, fun, site, to help review your knowledge of digestion, click the link! Digestion Or click the next link to read up on the digestion system Digestion Overview Enjoy!
Note: What is a system?: A system is made up of smaller parts that work together to complete a function, or task. Without any of these parts, the system may not be able to function properly or at all.
There are many interactions between the ecosystem and the digestive system.
An example of the ecosystem and digestive system interacting is throughout the process of digestion which involves the breakdown of the three major nutrients from the ecosystem. These three major nutrients are fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
Fat has many functions that would not be completed if the ecosystem did not provide us with fat. The functions of fat are: fat molecules make up the structure of cells, fat is a source of energy, fat provides insulation, fat acts as padding, fat transports some vitamins throughout the body, and fats are used in the production of several hormones. Fat is stored in specialized fat cells that form fat tissue and can be used for additional energy if necessary. The way the ecosystem provides us with fat is through producers and consumers. Producers provide protein foods such as nuts and seeds that contain a lot of fat. Consumers provide fats in the form of meat and dairy products.
Protein has many functions too, which are: protein molecules are part of the structure of cells, protein makes up other structures such as bones, hair, and fingernails, enzymes are proteins, proteins make up antibodies, and protein can be used for energy. The ecosystem provides proteins in many ways. It is good to know, though, that all foods contain some protein since plant and animals cells need protein. Producers in the ecosystem provide protein in the form of grains and wheats, which are high in protein, and vegatables and fruits which are low in protein. Consumers in the ecosystem provide a lot of protein because animals, like humans, need protein. Consumers provide protein in the form of meat and dairy products.
Carbohydrates, the third major nutrient, are made up of sugar, starch, and fiber, and have many functions also. Sugar and starch are energy sources, fiber helps food move through the digestive tract, carbohydrates make up the structure of cells, and foods that supply starches also supply other nutrients like vitamins and minerals. The ecosystem provides sugar in the form of many different types of sugar. Sugar can be found in grapes, fruits, candies, syrups, and many other foods. The ecosystem provides fiber in the form of grains, nuts, apples, broccoli, carrots and other foods. Starches are provided by the ecosystem in the form of potatoes, pumpkins, grains, and other foods.
As you can see, the three major nutrients play important roles in bodies. If it weren't for the ecosystem providing these nutrients, and the process of digestion in the body taking place, our bodies and animal's bodies wouldn't be able to absorb and use these nutrients for the many functions they have. This leads to how the digestive system breaks down these nutrients. The diagram below shows the parts of the digestive system and gives basic descriptions for what and how they break down nutrients.
Its easiest to think about in terms of a journey. Imagine: A human bites down with her teeth on a piece of chicken, she grinds it in her mouth until it is in small enough pieces to travel down her esophagus. In the mouth, enzymes in saliva break down the starch molecules of the chicken into sugar molecules which are smaller.
Other parts of the digestive system also do other things, such as the pancreas, which releases pancreatic juice to neutralize stomach acids and also contains ezymes that digest nutrients,
In the large intestine, water is absorbed and feces are stored until excretion out the anus. From eating the chicken piece that came from the ecosystem, the human gained important nutrients and also was able to get rid of any waste from eating the chicken.
That waste will be decomposed by decomposers in the ecosystem, releasing carbon dioxide, water and nutrients. The carbon dioxide, water and nutrients, along with energy from the sun, will allow producers to grow throrugh the process of photsynthesis, and for chickens to eat the plant. With another healthy chicken around, the human can eat the chicken and go through the whole process over again.
If you're interested in going to an easy, fun, site, to help review your knowledge of digestion, click the link! Digestion
Or click the next link to read up on the digestion system Digestion Overview
Enjoy!