Describe what happens to a meal rich in proteins along the alimentary canal from ingestion to egestion.

K.C.S.E Biology Q & A - MODEL 2018PP2QN08

Describe what happens to a meal rich in proteins along the alimentary canal from ingestion to egestion.

answers

​The meal is ingested through the mouth; (In the mouth), it is chewed/masticated (by teeth); to reduce/break it into smaller particles; mixed with saliva (from salivary gland);
The food is then rolled (by the tongue) into boluses; and pushed down into the oesophaghus/swallowed; The boluses move by peristalsis (into the stomach);
Constant contractions/relaxations of the stomach walls mix the food, (giving rise to chime); Presence of food in the stomach further stimulates production of gastric juice; which contains pepsinogen; and rennin/chymosin; Pepsinogen is activated to pepsin; by hydrochloric acid; (contained in the gastric juice). Pepsin breaks down proteins to peptides;
Rennin converts/coagulates the protein, caseinogen; in milk to casein; (which is abundant in young children). It is then pushed into the duodenum (through the pyloric sphincter); Pancreatic juice in the duodenum contains trypsin; which digests proteins into peptides; (secreted in an inactive form, trypsinogen)
In the ileum, intestinal juice/Succus enfericus is secreted; It contains peptidase enzymes; which breaks down polypeptides into amino acids; It also contains polypeptidase enzyme; which breaks down peptides to amino acids,completing the process of digestion of the proteins;
The amino acids are absorbed into the bloodstream/pass through the epithelia of the villi, and the capillary walls into the blood-stream; by active transport;
The undigested/indigestible proteins/food substances pass through to the colon/large intestines; where water is absorbed; leaving a semi-solid waste material being passed on to the rectum; then out through the anus (as faeces);