Digestion definition

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The energy required for all the processes and activities that take place in our bodies is derived
from the foods we ingest. The digestive system allows us to utilize food from such diverse
sources as meat from an animal and the roots of a plant, and utilize them as an energy source.
Whether it is the ability to coordinate the chewing of the food without injuring our tongue and
lips or the propulsion of the food from the stomach into the duodenum while releasing the
appropriate enzymes, our digestive system allows us to manage the process without much
thought and often while performing other tasks.

What is digestion?

The process of digestion is a fascinating and complex one that takes the food we place in our
mouth and turns it into energy and waste products. This process takes place in the
gastrointestinal tract, a long, connected, tubular structure that starts with the mouth and ends with
the anus. The food is propelled forward within the system, altered by enzymes and hormones
into usable particles and absorbed along the way. Other organs that support the digestive process
are the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. The time it takes for food to travel from entering the
mouth to be excreted as waste is around 30 to 40 hours.

The mouth

The mouth is the entry point for food, but the digestive system often gets ready before the first
piece of food even enters our mouth. Saliva is released by the salivary glands into our oral cavity
when we smell food. Once the food enters the mouth, chewing (mastication) breaks food into
smaller particles that can be more easily attacked by the enzymes in saliva. Our teeth can
perform a cutting as well as grinding function to accomplish this task. The tongue assists in
mixing the food with the saliva and then the tongue and roof of the mouth (soft palate) help
move the food along to the pharynx and esophagus.

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The pharynx (throat) is the transition area from the mouth to the esophagus. From the pharynx
there are two paths that the food bolus can take; 1) the wrong path, which is down the windpipe
into the lungs, or 2) the correct path into the esophagus and then the stomach. The act of
swallowing is a complex process that closes the windpipe (to protect our lungs) and moves food
into the esophagus. This process is mostly automatic (reflex) but it is also partially under our
direct control.

Once it enters the esophagus, food is moved down the esophagus and into our stomach. The
esophagus is a muscular tube that contracts in a synchronized fashion (peristalsis) to move food
down towards the stomach. While the muscles behind the food product contract, the muscles
ahead of the food relax, causing the forward propulsion of the food. Peristalsis is the main
mechanism by which food moves through our digestive system.

Once the food approaches the stomach, a muscular valve (the lower esophageal sphincter)
relaxes and lets the food pass into the stomach. This sphincter has the important function of
closing the stomach so no food or stomach acid reenters the esophagus (and therefore avoiding
heartburn or regurgitation).

The stomach and small intestine

From glands that line the stomach, acid and enzymes are secreted that continue the breakdown
process of the food. The stomach muscles further mix the food. At the end of this process, the
food you placed in your mouth has been transformed to a thick creamy fluid called chyme.
This thick fluid is then pushed into the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). With the
help of enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver, further breakdown of the food occurs
in the small intestine.

The small intestine has three segments. The first segment is the duodenum where further
breakdown of the food takes place. The next two parts of the small intestine (jejunum and ileum)
are mostly responsible for the absorption of nutrients from the processed food into the
bloodstream through the walls of the intestine.

After the small intestine, the leftover waste leaves the upper gastrointestinal tract (upper GI tract)
which is made up of everything above the large intestine, and moves into the large intestine or
colon (the beginning of the lower GI tract).
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The colon, rectum, and anus

The role of the lower GI tract is to solidify the waste product (by absorbing water), store the
waste product until it can be evacuated (going to the bathroom) and help with the evacuation
process.

The large intestine (colon) has four parts:

1. ascending colon,
2. transverse colon,
 3. descending colon and
4. sigmoid colon.

All together the colon is approximately 7 feet long and connects to the rectum. Here as in most
other parts of the GI system, the waste product is moved along by peristalsis. As the waste
product passes through the colon, water is absorbed and stool is formed.

The stool from the colon is stored in the rectum. The anal sphincter provides the control over
releasing stool or holding it. Once stool arrives in the rectum, a feedback to the brain makes the
person aware of the need for a bowel movement. Voluntary control over the anal sphincter lets
us hold the stool until we go to the toilet.

Three accessory digestive organs (pancreas, liver, gallbladder)

Three other organs are instrumental in the digestive process.

1. Pancreas: Although the pancreas is mostly known for its blood sugar regulatory function
with the production of insulin (as part of the endocrine system -- he insulin goesdirectly
from the gland into the bloodstream), it is the main producer of digestive enzymes as part
of the exocrine system (the enzymes produced by the gland pass through a duct into the
intestines). These enzymes are released into the duodenum and help with the digestion of
fats, proteins, and carbohydrates..
2. Liver: The liver produces bile for fat digestion and elimination. In addition, nutrients are
stored in the liver, and toxins and chemicals are filtered by liver.
3. Gallbladder: Bile is stored and released from the gallbladder. When fatty food enters the
duodenum, the gallbladder contracts and releases bile.