Digestive system
Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) · Unit 7: Human nutrition · 13 flashcards
Digestive system is topic 7.2 in the Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) syllabus , positioned in Unit 7 — Human nutrition , alongside Diet, Physical digestion and Chemical digestion. In one line: Ingestion is the process of taking substances, such as food and drink, into the body via the mouth.
This topic is examined in Paper 1 (multiple-choice) and Papers 3/4 (theory), plus Paper 5 or Paper 6 (practical / alternative to practical). Past papers from 2022 to 2025 show this topic across 15 questions worth 197 marks (around 2.9% of all Biology marks in those years).
The deck below contains 13 flashcards — 5 definitions, 6 key concepts and 2 identification cards — covering the precise wording mark schemes reward. Use the 5 definition cards to lock down command-word answers (define, state), then move on to the concept and application cards to handle explain, describe and compare questions.
Ingestion
Ingestion is the process of taking substances, such as food and drink, into the body via the mouth.
What the Cambridge 0610 syllabus says
Official 2026-2028 specThese are the exact learning objectives Cambridge sets for this topic. Match the command word (Describe, Explain, State, etc.) in your answer to score full marks.
- Identify Identify in diagrams and images the main organs of the digestive system, limited to: (a) alimentary canal: mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum and ileum) and large intestine (colon, rectum, anus) (b) associated organs: salivary glands, pancreas, liver and gall bladder
- Describe Describe the functions of the organs of the digestive system listed in 7.2.1, in relation to: (a) ingestion – the taking of substances, e.g. food and drink, into the body (b) digestion – the breakdown of food (c) absorption – the movement of nutrients from the intestines into the blood (d) assimilation – uptake and use of nutrients by cells (e) egestion – the removal of undigested food from the body as faeces
Name the organs forming the alimentary canal.
The alimentary canal consists of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum and ileum), large intestine (colon, rectum), and anus. Food passes directly through these organs during digestion and egestion.
Name the accessory organs of the digestive system.
The accessory organs include the salivary glands, pancreas, liver, and gall bladder. These organs aid digestion by secreting enzymes or other substances into the alimentary canal; food doesn't pass directly through them.
What is ingestion?
Ingestion is the process of taking substances, such as food and drink, into the body via the mouth.
What is digestion?
Digestion is the breakdown of large, insoluble food molecules into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed. This involves both mechanical digestion (
What is the role of the mouth in digestion?
The mouth is where ingestion and mechanical digestion (chewing) begin, and chemical digestion of carbohydrates starts with salivary amylase enzyme breaking down starch into maltose.
What is the function of the oesophagus?
The oesophagus transports food from the mouth to the stomach via peristalsis, which are wave-like muscle contractions that push the bolus down. No digestion or absorption occurs here.
What is the role of the stomach in digestion?
The stomach stores and mixes food with gastric juice, which contains hydrochloric acid (kills bacteria, optimum pH for enzymes) and pepsin (enzyme that starts protein digestion). Mechanical digestion also occurs through churning.
What is the function of the duodenum?
The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine where digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver mix with the chyme. It continues the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.
What is the role of the ileum?
The ileum is the last part of the small intestine where the absorption of digested food molecules occurs into the bloodstream. It has villi and microvilli to increase the surface area for absorption.
What is the function of the large intestine (colon and rectum)?
The colon absorbs water and salts from undigested food, while the rectum stores faeces until egestion. The large intestine does not produce digestive enzymes.
What is absorption?
Absorption is the movement of digested food molecules and ions through the wall of the intestine into the blood or lymph.
What is assimilation?
Assimilation is the process by which cells use absorbed nutrients to build new protoplasm, or to provide energy.
What is egestion?
Egestion is the removal of undigested waste materials from the body as faeces, through the anus. Faeces consist of undigested food, dead cells and bacteria.
Key Questions: Digestive system
What is ingestion?
Ingestion is the process of taking substances, such as food and drink, into the body via the mouth.
What is digestion?
Digestion is the breakdown of large, insoluble food molecules into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed. This involves both mechanical digestion (
What is absorption?
Absorption is the movement of digested food molecules and ions through the wall of the intestine into the blood or lymph.
What is assimilation?
Assimilation is the process by which cells use absorbed nutrients to build new protoplasm, or to provide energy.
What is egestion?
Egestion is the removal of undigested waste materials from the body as faeces, through the anus. Faeces consist of undigested food, dead cells and bacteria.
Tips to avoid common mistakes in Digestive system
- ● In your notes, make a chart of digestive processes ordered by location: mouth, then stomach, then small intestine.
- ● Clearly differentiate physical digestion (chewing) from chemical digestion (enzymes breaking bonds).
- ● Commit this to memory: bile made in liver, stored in gall bladder.
- ● Double-check your spelling of organ names like 'pancreas' to avoid careless errors.
- ● Remember that HCl in the stomach's function is to establish the ideal pH for enzyme activity, not to digest food itself.
More topics in Unit 7 — Human nutrition
Digestive system sits alongside these Biology decks in the same syllabus unit. Each uses the same spaced-repetition system, so progress in one informs the next.
Cambridge syllabus keywords to use in your answers
These are the official Cambridge 0610 terms tagged to this section. Mark schemes credit responses that use the exact term — weave them into your answers verbatim rather than paraphrasing.
Key terms covered in this Digestive system deck
Every term below is defined in the flashcards above. Use the list as a quick recall test before your exam — if you can't define one of these in your own words, flip back to that card.
Related Biology guides
Long-read articles that go beyond the deck — cover the whole subject's common mistakes, high-yield content and revision pacing.
How to study this Digestive system deck
Start in Study Mode, attempt each card before flipping, then rate Hard, Okay or Easy. Cards you rate Hard come back within a day; cards you rate Easy push out to weeks. Your progress is saved in your browser, so come back daily for 5–10 minute reviews until every card reads Mastered.
Study Mode
Space to flip • ←→ to navigate • Esc to close
You're on a roll!
You've viewed 10 topics today
Create a free account to unlock unlimited access to all revision notes, flashcards, and study materials.
You're all set!
Enjoy unlimited access to all study materials.
Something went wrong. Please try again.
What you'll get:
- Unlimited revision notes & flashcards
- Track your study progress
- No spam, just study updates