Let’s follow the path of a delicious ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce and pickles as it is eaten and digested! Start at the beginning and discuss the anatomical parts as well as the biochemical roles that contribute to this sandwich being turned into chemical energy. Be sure to include mechanical and chemical mechanisms, along with how they are metabolized in the body!

What happens if one part does not function? For example, what happens to digestion if the person is missing many teeth but can’t afford dentures or perhaps has a digestive disorder?

1. What stress factors may cause issues in the digestive tract for some people?
2. How can a regular exercise program aid in the development of a healthy digestive tract?
3. How might digestion and metabolism be different over the life span?