NUSC 1165 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Digestion, Endocrine System, Intestinal Gland
21 Jun 2019
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Document Summary
Our bodies and the food we eat, like all matter on earth, are made of units called atoms, cannot be further broken down by chemical means, different elements have different characteristics. These atoms can be linked by forces called chemical bonds to form molecules. In any living system, molecules are organized into structures that form cells, the smallest unit of life. These tissues (muscle, nerve, epithelial, and connective) are organized in varying combinations into organs, which are discrete structures that perform specialized functions in the body. Most organs do not function alone but are part of a group of cooperative organs called an organ system. The endocrine system secretes hormones that help regulate food intake and the function of digestive organs. The digestive system provides two major functions: digestion and absorption, most food must be digested in order for the nutrients it contains to be absorbed into the body.
