After swallowing a capsule endoscope, which parts of the digestive tract will the capsule pass through?
What characteristics should the materials used to make capsules have? Explain.
Compared to traditional endoscopy, what are the advantages of using capsule endoscopy?
Human nutrition involves five processes. What are these five processes? Since they are not completed sequentially, use a flowchart to show the pathways of these processes.
Digestion refers to breaking food down into simple, soluble, and absorbable molecules. Into what molecules should carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids be broken down for digestion to be considered complete?
Defecation refers to the process of forming feces. What substances should feces normally contain?
Among the digestive glands in the human body, which are located within the digestive tract walls and which are outside the digestive tract?
The pharynx and larynx are different locations. The pharynx is the intersection of four pathways. What are these four pathways?
[Ingestion]
Scientists can estimate what an animal primarily eats based on the shape and types of its teeth. Explain.
Textbooks list the function of molars as grinding and crushing food. These two functions involve different molar shapes. For grinding food, what surface features should molars have? Additionally, do the muscles of the mouth and jawbones require special features? If so, what are they?
Crushing food is a primary function of carnivores' molars. How are the surface shapes of carnivores' molars similar to and different from those of herbivores?
Carnivores often have inward-curving canine teeth. What is the importance of this shape?
To bite hard foods, which human teeth should be used? Explain.
Humans have 20 baby teeth, which are replaced by 32 permanent teeth. This means 20 baby teeth fall out, but we don’t seem to notice losing this many teeth. Why might this be?
Humans should have 32 permanent teeth, but many people find they do not have all 32. Why might this be?
Wisdom teeth usually emerge between the ages of 16 and 24. Some people say the earlier they emerge, the better. Why?
Tooth decay refers to the erosion of tooth structure. Explain the process of tooth decay.
Based on the process of tooth decay, how can it be prevented?
Tooth decay does not always cause pain. Explain why.
How is the position of the neck of the tooth defined?
Where is dental plaque located? What does dental cleaning actually clean?
Some animals' molars continuously grow. Are these animals carnivores or herbivores? Explain.
Can DNA be detected from teeth?
[Food Digestion]
Vitamins and minerals are small molecules that do not require digestion, but why are minerals in food often not absorbed?
Between mechanical digestion and chemical digestion, which is more important? Explain.
Why is chewing food in the mouth important for nutrient absorption?
Chewing rice for a while in the mouth makes it taste sweet. Explain why.
Carbohydrase is not a single enzyme but a group of digestive enzymes. What enzyme specifically catalyzes the breakdown of starch?
Under what circumstances might food in the mouth be expelled through the nasal cavity?
If the stomach is removed due to cancer, what dietary changes should the patient make? Explain.
What are the differences between pepsin and protease?
The main cause of stomach ulcers is a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. What characteristics might Helicobacter pylori have that allow it to survive in the stomach?
Based on your understanding of stomach function, what types of food are more likely to create a feeling of fullness?
If the gallbladder is removed, what dietary adjustments should be made?
Some suggest that removing part of the stomach is an effective way to lose weight. Do you agree? Explain.
Some suggest that removing part of the small intestine is an effective way to lose weight. What is the principle behind this?
Eating porridge (congee) is said to aid absorption by some but is said to hinder absorption by others. Explain the reasoning behind both views.
After falling ill, why is porridge often recommended as a food for patients?
Digestive enzymes in the digestive tract can break down the proteins in meat. However, the small intestine itself is primarily made of proteins. Why is the small intestine not digested?
The pancreas secretes proteases, but why is the pancreas itself not digested? Explain.
Under what circumstances might the pancreas be digested?
[Food Absorption]
Why might two people who eat the same food and portion size absorb different amounts of nutrients?
To effectively absorb nutrients from a meal, is it better to drink the soup before or after a meal? Why?
How does drinking a large amount of soda during a meal affect nutrient absorption?
The small intestine is the main site of nutrient absorption, while the large intestine primarily absorbs water. Are these two statements contradictory?
If the large intestine fails to absorb enough water in time, what will happen to the body?
The small intestine is not the only site of absorption in the digestive tract. What other locations are involved, and why are they generally less important?
After drinking alcohol, where is alcohol first absorbed? Based on this, how might one drink alcohol in a way that reduces the chance of getting drunk quickly?
When drinking alcohol, what types of food can slow alcohol absorption? Explain.
[Assimilation]
Why do absorbed lipids eventually reach the heart?
Glycogen is stored in the liver and skeletal muscles. What are the respective importance of these two storage locations?
Under all circumstances, amino acids are used to repair damaged tissues. Why?
How does the body process excess glucose and amino acids differently?
Can consuming too much protein lead to weight gain? Why?
Why does it take some time during exercise to begin burning body fat?
How does the body’s ability to absorb lipids differ in winter compared to summer? What is the importance of this difference?
Why does liver disease severely affect body function?
After eating a carbohydrate-rich meal and then fasting for several days, how would blood sugar levels change during those days? Explain.
What animal organs or tissues should be consumed to obtain more iron? Explain.
What is the principle behind methods of training alcohol tolerance?
Why is drinking highly concentrated alcohol suddenly potentially fatal?
In theory, can a person become immune to all poisons? How could this be achieved?
Why might having an overly strong liver detoxification ability sometimes be disadvantageous?
[Defecation]
Under normal circumstances, what color is feces never supposed to be? Explain.
If feces contains blood streaks or clots, what part of the body might have a problem?
Besides the anus, where else in the human body are sphincters located?
If the rectum is removed due to illness, what problems might occur, and how can they be resolved?
Why is feces not expelled involuntarily under normal circumstances?
Why might colon cleansing (removal of residual feces) make the body healthier? Explain the principle.
Why can fecal tests detect various diseases?
Although E. coli in the intestines does not typically harm the body, why is E. coli used as an indicator for water quality testing?