Digestive Distortion Trivia Quiz

Answer: Alimentary canal

The whole tubular structure of the digestive system is called the alimentary canal. It is about 9 metres long and is highly coiled, especially at the small intestine. It makes up the digestive system along with the digestive glands, salivary glands and teeth.

Answer: Oesophagus

Oesophagus is the name given to the food pipe, which starts from the throat alongside the trachea, or wind pipe. It is the only part of the digestive system other than the large intestine which does not produce any enzymes.

Answer: Salivary glands

Salivary glands are located in the mouth and are three in number - parotid, submandibular and sublingual. They secrete an enzyme called salivary amylase (ptyalin) which helps in digestion of starch (maltose). The saliva secreted by these glands also has a mild disinfecting effect.

Answer: Enzymes

Enzymes play a key role in digestion. They are like biochemocal catalysts and help in enhancing the speed of reactions like conversion of starch to maltose and proteins to polypeptides. They often only act in a particular range of acidity or alkalinity.

Answer: Canine

Canines are conical and sharply pointed teeth, especially useful to carnivores for capturing the prey and tearing the food. Humans also have one canine on either side of the incisors in each jaw.

Answer: Larynx

The larynx, or the voice box is popularly called "Adam's apple". It contains two ligamentous tissues called vocal cords. Air expelled forcibly through the vocal cords causes them to vibrate, producing sound. The effects of swallowing can be seen prominently by observing the rise and fall of larynx.

Answer: Chyme

When the food enters the stomach, it is throughly churned and mixed with gastric juice and hydrochloric acid. Some protein is digested in the stomach. Finally, after about 3 hours the food achieves a pulp-like state called chyme which leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine.

Answer: Pancreas

The pancreas is located behind the stomach. It secretes the pancreatic juice containing various enzymes like amylopsin (which digests starch), trypsin (which digests protein) and steapsin (which emulsifies fats). It opens into the duodenum.

Answer: False

Enamel is the hardest substance in our body. It covers our teeth, but the bulk of our teeth is formed by dentine. Enamel is so hard because it is made of large amounts of calcium and phosphorus. However, it cannot be regrown if broken.

Answer: Liver

Liver is the largest gland in our body. It not only breaks excess amino acids and helps in assimilation, but also aids the digestive system by producing bile juice which emulsifies fats in the first stage and makes the chyme alkaline for the pancreatic juice to act on it.