TEST REVIEW: Digestive, Endocrine, Nervous, Reproductive Systems
1. Describe the main functions of each of the following:
a. Endocrine System -This system produces hormones that regulate growth,
development, sleep
b. Nervous System -This system controls or regulates all the body’s functions. The
nervous system sends and receives messages through our nerves based on external or
internal stimuli and causes the body to respond.
c. Reproductive System -This system ensures that genetic material is passed on to
offspring and that the species is continued. Also, produces eggs/sperm and hormones.
d. Digestive System
i. Ingest (takes in) food for nutrients.
ii. Digest (breaks down) large molecules into smaller ones
iii. Absorbs nutrients (small molecules).
iv. Excretes excess water and waste.
2. How does the nervous system work with the endocrine system?
The endocrine system only produces hormones when the nervous system sends a
message to the glands that the hormone levels are not in balance. Once balance
(homeostasis) is achieved, the hormone stops. Working together, the endocrine and
nervous system allow us to react immediately to external and internal stimuli (i.e. react
in fearful situations)
3. How does the digestive system get nutrients to the cells of the body?
Nutrients are absorbed by the villi in the small intestine and sent to the blood stream to
be carried to the cells in the circulatory system.
4. What system directs ALL other systems and includes the brain? The nervous system
5. What is the brain’s function? To control and direct all the functions of the body
6. Our hypothalamus regulates our temperature. How do our bodies react when we are cold?
Our bodies shiver to create heat.
7. How do our bodies react when we are very hot?
Our bodies sweat to bring our temperature down.
8. What is a hormone? Hormones are chemicals produced by glands
9. What do hormones do?
Hormones affect target tissues, and can speed up or slow down cellular activities
and processes. Hormones tell your cells what to do (i.e. hormones from the
pituitary gland tells your cells to grow)
10. What is an external stimuli? An external stimuli is outside the body.
a. Give an example A stick poking you
11. What is an internal stimuli? An internal stimuli is inside the body.
a. Give an example A fever
12. How do you know that digestion involves a chemical change?
Large molecules are broken into smaller molecules and substances change. Heat is
also released during the process.
13. Where does most digestion occur? Small Intestine
14. What happens to organic compounds as they move through the digestive process?
They are broken into smaller compounds that the body (cells) can use as energy.
15. Energy Transformation in digestion is:
Food contains chemical energy. Through digestion the energy will be transformed into
mechanical energy for movement and thermal energy in the form of heat.
16. How does the amount of nutrients in the blood approaching and moving away from the small
intestine change?
There will be fewer nutrients from food present in the blood approaching the small
intestine than in the blood moving away from the small intestine because the
nutrients are absorbed by the villi in the small intestine and sent to the bloodstream.
17. Define mechanical digestion
Digestion that occurs when food is broken down due to a physical force such as
grinding, chewing and churning (mixing).
18. Define chemical digestion
Digestion that occurs when chemical reactions break down large molecules of food
into smaller ones.