INTRODUCTION
We are exploring the digestive system and in particular the mouth. The role of the digestive system is breaking down food so nutrients get around the body and help you to heal wounds and get energy to perform to your best. The digestive system is a track beginning at the mouth and carrying the food through organs and intestines ending at the anus.
THE ROLE OF THE MOUTH
The role of the mouth in the digestive system is to crush and chew food, using your teeth to allow it to pass the other organs in the system. Saliva moistens the food to let it slide easily down the esophagus. The tonsils protect the body from infections coming through the mouth and nose. The tongue helps you talk, eat and taste. The front of the tongue is flexible which allows us to talk. It moves food around and mixes food with saliva to help it break down.
THE PARTS OF THE MOUTH
The teeth are hard organs in the mouth. We use our teeth to chew food into pieces. They also help to shape the mouth and face and help with speaking. There are different kinds of teeth. The incisors slice and tear food. Canines pierce and hold food. Pre molars and molars both grind and chew.
The tonsils lie under the surface of the mouth and throat. The tonsils prevent infection from entering through the mouth and nose. There are four different types of tonsils: Adenoid, Tubal, Palatine and Lingual.
The tongue helps you talk, eat and taste. The front of the tongue is flexible which allows us to talk. It moves food around and mixes food with saliva to help it break down fats and starches. The tongue then pushes the food to the back of the throat. If your tongue is dry it can't taste.
Saliva is a watery liquid in the mouth of humans and animals. Human saliva is mostly water with the rest being electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, antibacterial, and bacteria compounds such as secretory IgA and lysozyme. Enzymes in saliva are very important in breaking down dietary starches and fats. Enzymes also break down food in dental crevices protecting teeth from bacterial decay. Saliva also plays a role in wetting food that has been crushed by the teeth. Food is moulded into a ball by the tongue, wetting the food allows it to be swallowed easily.
HOW THE MOUTH WORKS TOGETHER
The mouth is the first step in the digestive process. The lips hold the food and allow for the teeth to get a secure hold, then the teeth rip, tear, chew and crush the food that has entered the mouth. The tongue then moves the food around the mouth, coating the food in a wet layer of saliva. This allows for the food to slide easily down the esophagus, commonly known as the throat. The saliva also breaks the dietary fats and starches. Enzymes also breaks down food that gets into the dental crevices in the teeth, helping to stop the teeth from decaying and rotting. Tonsils prevent infection from entering the mouth which means your mouth doesn't get infected.
We are exploring the digestive system and in particular the mouth. The role of the digestive system is breaking down food so nutrients get around the body and help you to heal wounds and get energy to perform to your best. The digestive system is a track beginning at the mouth and carrying the food through organs and intestines ending at the anus.
THE ROLE OF THE MOUTH
The role of the mouth in the digestive system is to crush and chew food, using your teeth to allow it to pass the other organs in the system. Saliva moistens the food to let it slide easily down the esophagus. The tonsils protect the body from infections coming through the mouth and nose. The tongue helps you talk, eat and taste. The front of the tongue is flexible which allows us to talk. It moves food around and mixes food with saliva to help it break down.
THE PARTS OF THE MOUTH
The teeth are hard organs in the mouth. We use our teeth to chew food into pieces. They also help to shape the mouth and face and help with speaking. There are different kinds of teeth. The incisors slice and tear food. Canines pierce and hold food. Pre molars and molars both grind and chew.
The tonsils lie under the surface of the mouth and throat. The tonsils prevent infection from entering through the mouth and nose. There are four different types of tonsils: Adenoid, Tubal, Palatine and Lingual.
The tongue helps you talk, eat and taste. The front of the tongue is flexible which allows us to talk. It moves food around and mixes food with saliva to help it break down fats and starches. The tongue then pushes the food to the back of the throat. If your tongue is dry it can't taste.
Saliva is a watery liquid in the mouth of humans and animals. Human saliva is mostly water with the rest being electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, antibacterial, and bacteria compounds such as secretory IgA and lysozyme. Enzymes in saliva are very important in breaking down dietary starches and fats. Enzymes also break down food in dental crevices protecting teeth from bacterial decay. Saliva also plays a role in wetting food that has been crushed by the teeth. Food is moulded into a ball by the tongue, wetting the food allows it to be swallowed easily.
HOW THE MOUTH WORKS TOGETHER
The mouth is the first step in the digestive process. The lips hold the food and allow for the teeth to get a secure hold, then the teeth rip, tear, chew and crush the food that has entered the mouth. The tongue then moves the food around the mouth, coating the food in a wet layer of saliva. This allows for the food to slide easily down the esophagus, commonly known as the throat. The saliva also breaks the dietary fats and starches. Enzymes also breaks down food that gets into the dental crevices in the teeth, helping to stop the teeth from decaying and rotting. Tonsils prevent infection from entering the mouth which means your mouth doesn't get infected.