Digestion Lab

In this lab we are going to trace the journey of a carrot through the digestion system.
Introduction: There are three steps in digestion: mechanical digestion chemical digestion absorption. 1. Mechanical digestion is the first step where food is mechanically broken into smaller pieces by the teeth and strong jaws. Next, saliva mixes into the chewed food to make a soft and pasty solution that will be easier to swallow. This solution is the beginning of chemical digestion. 2. Chemical digestion is the process in which different enzymes and chemicals are introduced in order for the digestive system to break-down sugars, proteins and to emulsify (change into smaller drops) fats. 3. The last stage is absorption. This is when the small intestine actually passes the nutrients through its lining into the bloodstream. The wall of the small intestine is special. On its inner wall are small fingerlike structures called "villi", which increase the surface area by their long thin shape. Each villus (singular for villi) is formed of a single layer of cells. Some substances, like water, can pass easily through the thin one cell wall, others must first attach to a specialized carrier molecule that can pull them through. Inside the each villus is a thin , one-cell thick capillary. Capillaries are the smallest of our blood vessels, some are so small that they only let the blood cells travel in single file! This is where the nutrients from our breakfast, lunch, or dinner enter the bloodstream. From here, the blood in the capillaries carries these nutrients back to the heart in veins in order to get pumped to the lungs for more oxygen.

Procedure: 1. 2. Each member of the group needs to read the introduction section Use the following word bank to label the diagram below gall bladder large intestine liver mouthpancreas rectum small intestine stomach

Esophagus

3. Describe the order your group proposes the carrot will take as it travels through the labeled parts in the box below.

4.

Now you will do a physical simulation of the carrots journey.

Safety Precautions Avoid chemical contact with eyes and skin, gloves and safety lenses should be worn when handling alcohol. Simmering alcohol may cause nasal irritation, avoid inhaling direct fumes.

5. Step 1 of digestion is mechanical digestion. To simulate chewing use the plastic knife to chop the carrot into small pieces (about the size of a grain of rice or smaller) 6. Step 2 starts the chemical digestion of the food by enzymes in the saliva. It is then swallowed and carried down to the stomach. To simulate this you will place your chopped carrot into the small beaker at your table. 7. When the food is in the stomach, acid and enzymes break the food into smaller molecules. To simulate this, add alcohol into the beaker until it just covers the top of the carrot. 8. Fill approximately of the large beaker with tap water. 9. Carefully place the small beaker containing the carrot pieces and alcohol into the large beaker. (Caution: do not let the water overflow into the carrot /alcohol beaker- if it looks like it is going to do this as you are lowering the small beaker, remove it, pour out a little water into the sink then try again) 10. Place the large beaker on the hot plate and turn on the heat. 11. The alcohol will begin to boil before the water. When it does, lower the heat and allow the alcohol to simmer for 15 minutes, without letting the water come to a boil. 12. Carefully observe any changes in the carrot/alcohol mixture, as you will be writing a summary of your observations at the end of the lab. 13. After simmering, carefully remove from heat and place one tip of the coffee filter strip into the mixture, touching the top of the carrots. 14. What do you think the coffee filter represents? ____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 15. Describe in detail your observations, and discuss your groups results in the space below.

Adapted from

http://www.caosclub.org/members/hbody22.html