Download Mike Whitley and Audrey Rodriguez

AP Biology
Chapter 41 Discussion Questions
1. Describe in detail the homeostatic regulation of glucose levels in the blood. In
what location will the body expend glycogen first when blood glucose level is
low? Is this an example of positive or negative feedback?
2. Describe the difference between undernourishment, overnourishment, and
malnourishment. Include the negative effects each can have on the body and the
eventual results.
3. Define and differentiate between vitamins and minerals. Describe their roles in
the diet and why they are only needed in minute amounts.
4. Describe the four feeding mechanisms that have evolved among animals and give
an example of an organism for each mechanism that uses that way of feeding.
5. Describe the four main stages of food processing.
intracellular digestion and extracellular digestion.
Differentiate between
6. Describe the changes of the epiglottis and the esophageal sphincter when
swallowing and describe the state of these when not swallowing. Why is this
change important to the respiratory system and life of the human?
7. Describe the stomach’s function in digestion. Include the two reasons why the
pepsin in the stomach does not destroy the cells of the stomach wall.
8. Describe the processes of Carbohydrate, Protein, Nucleic Acid, and Fat Digestion
in the small intestine.
9. Why must the villi of the small intestine have a large surface area? Also, describe
the overall efficiency of digestion and the cost of energy to go through the
process. Include why diets containing vegetables are less efficient than diets
containing meats.
10. Describe dentition and the length of vertebrate digestive systems as examples of
structural adaptations. Give an example of organisms with the adaptations for
each.