Class 7: Nutrition in Animals- Boojho & Paheli's Questions Answers

Nutrition in Animals

Boojho & Paheli's Questions Answered

Animals have fascinating digestive systems that help them get nutrients from food. From humans to cows, different animals have different ways of processing food. Let's explore common questions about animal nutrition!

Human Digestive System

B

How long is the small intestine? How does such a long structure fit in our body?

The small intestine is about 6-7 meters long in adults! That's taller than a giraffe!

How it fits inside our body

It fits inside our body because it's tightly coiled and folded. This coiled design creates a huge surface area for absorbing nutrients from food.

The small intestine is highly coiled to fit in our abdomen

Importance of Length

The long length provides a large surface area for absorbing nutrients from digested food. This surface area is about the size of a tennis court!

P

How does food move in the opposite direction during vomiting?

During vomiting, food moves backward from the stomach to the mouth through reverse muscle contractions.

How vomiting happens

• The stomach muscles contract strongly in reverse direction
• The esophagus relaxes to allow backward movement
• The diaphragm pushes downward forcefully
• The windpipe closes to prevent food entering lungs

Why vomiting happens

Vomiting is a protective reflex that helps remove harmful substances from our stomach before they can be absorbed into our body.

Ruminant Digestion

P

Why can't ruminants (like cows) chew food properly at the time they take it in?

Ruminants like cows, goats and sheep swallow grass quickly without chewing to protect themselves from predators.

First Eating

They quickly swallow grass without chewing to avoid predators while feeding in open fields.

Later Chewing

When safe, they bring food back to their mouth to chew properly as "cud".

Ruminant Digestive System

Ruminants have a special four-chambered stomach:

1. Rumen: Stores and softens grass
2. Reticulum: Forms cud balls
3. Omasum: Absorbs water
4. Abomasum: True stomach with digestive juices

B

Why can't we digest cellulose like cattle do?

Humans cannot digest cellulose because we lack special bacteria and enzymes needed to break it down.

Human Digestion

We lack special bacteria and enzymes to break down cellulose.

Our digestive system is too short to process grass effectively.

Cattle Digestion

They have special bacteria in their rumen that break down cellulose.

Their four-chambered stomach allows slow digestion of plant material.

Cellulose in our diet

Though humans can't digest cellulose, it's important as dietary fiber. It helps:

• Move food through our digestive system
• Prevent constipation
• Keep our gut healthy

Symbiotic Relationship

Cattle have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their rumen:

• Bacteria break down cellulose into simpler substances
• Cattle get nutrients from these simpler substances
• Bacteria get a safe home and constant food supply

Understanding how animals digest food helps us appreciate the amazing diversity of life!

Class 7 Science - Nutrition in Animals