Biology Matters G.C.E.

'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Nutrition in Humans

Test Yourself 6.1 (page 96)

1. (a) Liver
(b) Gall bladder

2. (a) A – longitudinal smooth muscles,

B – circular smooth muscles
(b) Your arrow should point to your left (when you face your drawing).

Test Yourself 6.2 (page 100)

1. If pepsin were produced in the active form, it would digest the proteins in the cells
that produce it.

2. (a) The stomach, pancreas and small intestine

(b) Amino acids

3. The bile emulsified the layer of oil (fat), lowering the surface tension of the oil and
causing the oil to break up into tiny oil globules on the surface of the water. This
allowed the sulfur powder to sink into the water.

Test Yourself 6.3 (page 103)

1. – The inner walls of the small intestine have numerous folds.

– The inner walls of the small intestine are lined with numerous villi.
– Epithelial cells of the villi have numerous microvilli.

2. The epithelium is very thin (only one cell thick). This provides a short diffusion
distance for digested products and allows rapid diffusion of food substances across
the epithelium.

3. If the digested products absorbed are allowed to accumulate inside the villi, the
diffusion gradient will decrease. This will slow down absorption. The continuous
flow of blood through the capillaries transports the absorbed food substances away
from the villi. This maintains the diffusion gradient.

4. The length of the small intestine increases the surface area and slows down
movement of food through the small intestine, giving sufficient time for digestion
and absorption of digested products.

5. – Glucose and amino acids are absorbed by diffusion and active transport. –
Absorption takes place both in the presence and absence of oxygen,
indicating diffusion. However, absorption is greater in the presence of
oxygen, indicating active transport is also involved. The energy required
for active transport is obtained from cell tissue (aerobic) respiration.
– Glycerol and fatty acids are absorbed by diffusion only. Absorption is
about the same under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

6. Too little water being reabsorbed from faeces in the large intestine.

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Biology Matters G.C.E. 'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 6

Test Yourself 6.4 (page 105)

1. Lacteals in the intestinal villi.

2. Adipose tissue consists of fat cells.

Adipose tissue formed around organs helps to protect the organs from mechanical
injury while adipose tissue formed in the skin prevents excessive heat lost.

Test Yourself 6.5 (page 108)

1. Refer to ‘Production of bile’ in Section 6.5.

2. Role of the liver in carbohydrate metabolism: Refer to ‘Regulation of blood glucose

concentration’ in Section 6.5. Role of the liver in fat metabolism: Refer to
‘Production of bile’ in Section 6.5.

Get It Right (page 110)

(a) False
Bile is produced in the liver but stored in the gall bladder.
(b) False
Pancreatic amylase digests starch to maltose.
(c) False
The small intestine and the colon absorb water and mineral salts.
(d) False
Most of the absorbed sugars are stored as glycogen in the liver.
(e) False
The pancreas secretes the hormone insulin.

Let’s Review (page 110)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

1. B
2. D

Section B: Structured Questions

1. (a) (i) C
(ii) A
(b) Intestinal enzymes work best in alkaline conditions while stomach
enzymes work best in acidic conditions (hydrochloric acid in the
stomach has pH = 2).
(c) Salivary amylase.

2. It gives time for the enzyme in pineapple to break down some of the proteins in the
meat. During cooking, the high temperature will denature the enzymes.

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Biology Matters G.C.E. 'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 6

Section C: Free-Response Questions

(a) Without the stomach, there will be:

– no storage of food, causing food to move quickly into the small intestine;
– no churning of food, causing less mechanical break down of food;
– no pepsin, reducing protein digestion; and
– no acid to kill bacteria.
(b) Change in lifestyle includes the need to:
– eat small serving of food at a time;
– eat more often;
– consume a special soft diet; and
– ensure food consumed is properly cooked to kill any bacteria present.

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