Energy in the Human Body

A Middle School Life Science Curriculum

 
Relevant Links
» Throat animation
  « prev next »

Investigation 2.5

The Mouth and Throat

Now that you have come up with some ideas about digestion we are going to break it down step by step. That way we can build a complete usable model of digestion. Your teacher may periodically ask you to think individually or in your group as we proceed through this section.

Imagine that you have just started to have lunch. Choose one of the foods below and imagine placing it in your mouth. What happens to the food?

What about the nose? Does this have any effect on digestion?

Some people say that the nose leads to a passageway that is completely separate from the passageway from our mouth. What evidence do we have that the nose and the passage from the mouth might be connected?

Have you ever put medicine drops in your nose? Did you notice the taste of the medicine in your mouth? Why did this happen?

Have you ever started to cough or laugh when you are drinking water and the water comes out through the nose? How did this happen?

Can you breathe and swallow at the same time?

Draw what you think the inside connections of the nose, mouth, and throat look like on the head below.

Show your drawing to your group and discuss all the group models. How does your model compare to the others?

What would happen if you swallowed and breathed in at the same time? How would that look on your model?

Where does the food go after you swallow it?

CRITICIZE AND REVISE  

Now watch the animation your teacher will show you. Are there any surprises?

How does it compare to your model? Look back at your original drawing on the previous page.

Describe the action in the animation to a partner.

  « prev next »