THE

DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION
Digestion is the chemical breakdown
of large food molecules into smaller
molecules that can be used by cells.
The breakdown occurs when certain
specified enzymes are mixed with the
food.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE SYSTEM

THE DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM CONSISTS
OF:

A.) DIGESTIVE TRACT

MOUTH
Also known as the oral cavity, the mouth is
the hollow cavity that allows food and air to
enter the body.
AIR

FOOD

THROAT
lies behind and below the mouth. When food
and fluids leave the mouth, they pass through
the throat. Swallowing of food and fluids
begins voluntarily and continues
automatically

ESOPHAGUS
is a thin-walled, muscular channel lined
with mucous membranes that connects
the throat with the stomach.

STOMACH
The stomach is a muscular sac that lies between the
esophagusand the small intestinein the upper
abdomen. It is responsible for breaking down food that
is easier to digest for the rest of the intestines.

SMALL INTESTINES
the part of the intestine that runs between the stomach and the
large intestine witch consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and
ileum. It is in the small intestine, wherenutrientsoffoodsget
absorbed. It also helps to remove the carbon dioxide in the blood
flowing to it and in change, it supplies them with oxygen from
the food.

LARGE INTESTINES
The large intestine is the final section of the
gastrointestinal tract which consists of the cecum, colon,
and rectum that performs the important task of
absorbing water and vitamins while converting
digested food into feces or bower (waste).

RECTUM
the final section of the large intestine that ends at the
anus. As being the last part of the digestive tract, the
rectum acts as a temporary storage facility for feces /
waste material.

ANUS
Theanusis the opening in the human body that is between thebuttocks. It is
at the end of thegastrointestinal system(including the organs that digest
food), wherefecesorwaste materials from the rectum comes out of the body.

ANUS

B.) ORGANS
PANCREAS
Thepancreasis anorganthat
makeshormonesandenzymesto helpdigestion. The
pancreas helps break downcarbohydrates,fats,
andproteins. The pancreas is behind thestomachand is on
the left side of the human body.

LIVER
The liver is a large, meaty organ that sits on the right side of the
belly. Weighing about 3 pounds. Itsfunctionwithin the
digestivesystem is to process the nutrients absorbed from the
small intestine. Bile from theliversecreted into the small
intestine also plays an importantroleindigestingfat.

GALLBLADDER
It is the small sac-shaped organ beneath the liver. The
gallbladder holds bile produced in the liver until it is needed for
digesting fatty foods in the duodenum of the small intestine.
Bile is a bitter greenish-brown alkaline fluid that aids digestion
and is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder.

FUNCTIONS OF
THE SYSTEM

INGESTION
The first step to obtaining nutrition is
ingestion, a process where food is taken
in through the mouth and broken down
by teeth and saliva.

MASTICATION
Mastication or chewing is the process by which food
is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of
digestion, and it increases the surface area of foods
to allow more efficient break down by enzymes.
During the mastication process, the food is
positioned by the cheek and tongue between the
teeth for grinding.

PROPULSION
Propulsionis the movement of food along
thedigestive tract. The major means
ofpropulsionis peristalsis.
Peristalsisis a series of wave-like muscle contractions
that moves food to different processing stations in
thedigestive tract. The process of peristalsisbegins in the
esophagus when food is swallowed.

SECRETION
Is the preparatory stage of digestion where certain enzymes
and acids to help in the process of digestion. The secretions
are the following:
1. Mucus - secreted along entire digestive tract, lubricates
food and lining, coats lining and protects from mechanical
digestion from acid and from digestive enzymes
2. Water - liquefaction makes food easier to digest and
absorb
3. Bile emulsifies/blends fats
4. Enzymes - chemical digestion

DIGESTION
Digestionis the breakdown of large insoluble
food molecules into small water-soluble food
molecules so that they can be absorbed into
the watery blood plasma.

ABSORPTION
During the process ofabsorption, nutrients that
come from the food (including carbohydrates,
proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals) pass through
channels in theintestinalwall and into the
bloodstream. The blood works to distribute these
nutrients to the rest of the body.

DEFECATION/EXCRETION/ELIMINATION
Defecationis the final act ofdigestion, by which
organisms eliminate solid, semisolid, and/or liquid
waste material from thedigestive tractvia the
anus. Humans expel feces with a frequency varying
from a few times daily to a few times weekly.