GRADE 8 BIOLOGY NOTES
Lesson 7 – Human Nutrition
Q1. Describe what is meant by a balanced diet.
Balanced diet:
A balanced diet is a diet that contains all the essential nutrients in the correct
proportions to maintain good health. The nutrients needed are carbohydrate, fat,
protein, vitamins, minerals, fibre (roughage) and water.
(Nutrients - The substance in the food which provides energy and the chemicals needed to
make cells and other body parts.)
Q2. State the principal dietary sources and describe the importance of:
Nutrient Sources Importance / Function
Carbohydrates Rice, bread, pasta, Main source of energy for
potatoes, cereals, sugar, respiration
fruits
Fats and oils Butter, ghee, cooking oil, Long-term energy store;
nuts, seeds, dairy products, insulation; protection of organs
oily fish
Proteins Meat, fish, eggs, milk, Growth and repair of body
pulses, beans, nuts tissues; making enzymes and
hormones
Vitamin C Citrus fruits, tomatoes, Healthy gums; wound healing;
green vegetables prevents scurvy
Vitamin D Oily fish, eggs, dairy Helps absorption of calcium;
products, sunlight healthy bones and teeth
Calcium Milk, cheese, yoghurt, leafy Strong bones and teeth; blood
(mineral) green vegetables clotting
Iron (mineral) Red meat, liver, spinach, Formation of haemoglobin for
beans oxygen transport
Fibre Whole grains, fruits, Aids movement of food through
(roughage) vegetables, pulses the gut; prevents constipation
Water Drinking water, fruits, Medium for chemical reactions;
vegetables, beverages transport of substances;
temperature control
GRADE 8 BIOLOGY NOTES
Q3. State the causes of scurvy and rickets.
Scurvy:
• Caused by a deficiency of vitamin C in the diet.
Rickets:
• Caused by a deficiency of vitamin D (and sometimes lack of calcium), leading to
poor bone development.
Q4. (a) Draw and label the parts of digestive system.
Digestive system: The digestive system is a group of organs that break down food
into small, soluble molecules so they can be absorbed into the blood and used by
the body.
(b) Define the following terms.
i) Ingestion: It is the taking of substances, e.g. food and drinks, into the body
through the mouth.
(ii) Digestion: It is the breakdown of food.
(iii) Absorption: It is the movement of nutrients from the intestines into the blood.
(iv) Assimilation: It is the uptake and use of nutrients in cells.
GRADE 8 BIOLOGY NOTES
(v) Egestion: It is the passing out of food that has not been digested or absorbed as
faeces through the anus.
(vi) Physical / Mechanical Digestion: Physical digestion is the breakdown of food
into smaller pieces by mechanical processes such as chewing and churning, without
any chemical change to the food molecules
(vii) Chemical Digestion: It is the breakdown of large, insoluble food molecules into
small, soluble molecules.
(c) Describe the main regions of the alimentary canal/digestive system.
The alimentary canal is a long tube which starts at the mouth, runs through
the stomach and intestines, and finishes at the anus. It is part of the digestive
system.
• Mouth, salivary glands
• Oesophagus
• Stomach
• Pancreas, liver, gall bladder
• Small intestine (duodenum + ileum)
• Large intestine (colon + rectum)
• Anus
GRADE 8 BIOLOGY NOTES
(d) Describe the functions of the organs of the digestive system.
Q5. State that physical digestion increases the surface area of food.
Ans. Physical digestion increases the surface area of food, allowing enzymes to act
more efficiently during chemical digestion.
GRADE 8 BIOLOGY NOTES
Q6(a). Describe the functions of the types of human teeth in physical digestion
of food.
Ans. Teeth break food into smaller pieces, increasing the surface area for enzyme
action.
Incisors – sharp, chisel-shaped teeth used for cutting and biting food.
Canines – pointed teeth used for tearing food.
Premolars – have a broad surface; used for crushing and grinding food.
Molars – large, flat teeth used for grinding and chewing food into smaller pieces.
Q6(b). Describe the structure of human teeth
• Enamel: The hard outer covering of the tooth. It protects the tooth from
damage during biting and chewing.
• Dentine: Found beneath the enamel. It is less hard than enamel and supports
it. Dentine makes up most of the tooth.
• Pulp cavity: The soft central region of the tooth. It contains nerves and
blood vessels.
• Nerves: Located in the pulp cavity; they detect pain and temperature.
• Blood vessels: Located in the pulp; they supply nutrients and oxygen to keep
the tooth alive.
• Cement (cementum): A thin layer covering the root of the tooth. It helps to
attach the tooth to the jaw bone.
Human teeth are embedded in the jaw bone and held firmly in place by the
gums.
GRADE 8 BIOLOGY NOTES
Q7. Describe the function of the stomach in physical digestion.
Ans. The stomach carries out physical digestion by muscular contractions of its
walls, which churn and mix food. This breaks food into smaller pieces and mixes it
with gastric juice, increasing the surface area for enzyme action.
Q8. State the significance of chemical digestion in the alimentary canal.
It involves breaking down large, insoluble molecules into small, soluble molecules.
Enzymes speed up the process. They work efficiently at body temperature (37 °C)
and at a suitable pH. The main places where chemical digestion happens are the
mouth, stomach, and small intestine.
Q9. Describe the functions of enzymes.
Enzyme Secreted by Acts in Function
Amylase Salivary glands Mouth & Breaks down starch →
& pancreas small maltose
intestine
Maltase Ileum lining Small Breaks down maltose →
(epithelium) intestine glucose
Protease Stomach Stomach Breaks down protein →
(Pepsin) polypeptides (acidic pH)
Protease Pancreas Small Breaks down polypeptides
(Trypsin) intestine → peptides (alkaline pH)
Peptidase Ileum lining Small Breaks down peptides →
intestine amino acids
Lipase Pancreas Small Breaks down fats → fatty
intestine acids + glycerol
[Link] the functions of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice.
Ans. Hydrochloric acid, kills harmful microorganisms in food and providing an acidic
pH for optimum enzyme activity.
Q11. Outline the role of bile.
Ans. Bile is an alkaline liquid produced by the Liver and stored in the Gall bladder.
Functions of bile
1. Neutralises stomach acid
Bile is alkaline, so it neutralises the acidic mixture of food entering the
duodenum. This provides a suitable pH for enzymes to work.
2. Emulsifies fats
Bile breaks large fat globules into tiny [Link] increases surface area for
lipase to act faster.
GRADE 8 BIOLOGY NOTES
Q12. What is Absorption? Describe how it occurs.
Absorption is the movement of digested food molecules through the wall of the small
intestine into the blood or lymph.
The small intestine has two parts: duodenum and ileum. Most absorption of digested
food and water occurs in the illeum, while some water is absorbed in the colon (large
intestine).
Digestion is completed in the small intestine, where carbohydrates are broken down
into simple sugars, proteins into amino acids, and fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
These small, soluble molecules pass through the thin wall of the illeum into the
bloodstream or lymph by diffusion and active transport.
Water, mineral salts, and vitamins are also absorbed in the small illeum.
The illeum is well adapted for absorption as it has a large surface area, a thin lining,
and a rich blood supply, which allows nutrients to be absorbed efficiently.
(The small intestine absorbs 5−10 dm³ of water each day. However, the colon
absorbs much less water and salt than the illeum, generally around 0.3−0.5 dm³ per
day.)
[Link] the significance of villi and microvilli.
Villi: Villi are small finger-like projections on the inner wall of the small
intestine(ileum).
• Increase surface area for absorption
• Contain blood capillaries (absorb glucose & amino acids)
• Have a lacteal (absorbs fats)
Microvilli: Microvilli are tiny projections present on the epithelial cells covering each
villus, further increasing surface area for faster absorption.
GRADE 8 BIOLOGY NOTES
Q14. Describe the roles of capillaries and lacteals in villi.
Capillaries in the villi absorb glucose and amino acids and carry them away in the
blood.
The lacteal absorbs fatty acids and glycerol and transports them through the
lymphatic system.
Note
Energy for Transport: The epithelial cells contain mitochondria, which provide the
necessary energy for absorption through active transport.