a) Ingestion of ugali: Ugali is a staple food in many African countries, particularly in East Africa. The ingestion of ugali refers to the process of consuming this food. It involves taking a portion of cooked maize meal and forming it into a solid, dense, and dough-like consistency. Ugali is typically eaten by breaking off a small piece with the hand, shaping it into a ball or patty, and then swallowing it.
b) Digestion of ugali: The digestion of ugali begins in the mouth with the mechanical breakdown of the food through chewing. Saliva is mixed with the chewed food, which contains enzymes that initiate the breakdown of carbohydrates. As the ugali is swallowed, it moves into the stomach where it is further broken down by stomach acid and digestive enzymes. The stomach muscles then churn the food, breaking it down into smaller particles.
c) Absorption of ugali: After the digestion process in the stomach, the digested nutrients from ugali, such as carbohydrates, are absorbed in the small intestine. The walls of the small intestine are lined with tiny finger-like projections called villi, which have microvilli on their surfaces. These villi increase the surface area available for absorption. The nutrients from the digested ugali are absorbed through the villi and into the bloodstream.
d) Assimilation of ugali: Once the nutrients from ugali are absorbed into the bloodstream, they are transported to various cells and tissues in the body. Assimilation refers to the process by which these absorbed nutrients are used by the cells for various functions. In the case of ugali, the carbohydrates are converted into glucose, which provides energy for the body cells. The glucose can be immediately used for energy or stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles for later use.
Describe the
a).ingestion of ugali
b). digestion of ugali
c). absorption of ugali
d). assimilation of ugali
1 answer