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The Digestive System

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34 views20 pages

The Digestive System

Uploaded by

erock197593
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Digestive System

The digestive system involves a


group of organs including the mouth,
oesophagus, stomach, small and
large intestines, and the anus.
Together, they allow the breakdown
of food, absorption of food and
elimination of waste to occur.
Digestion involves the
mechanical and chemical
breakdown of food into
molecules small enough
for the body to absorb
The Four Components of Digestion
• Ingestion (consuming the food)

• Digestion (the breaking down of this food into smaller


pieces)

• Absorption (the conversion of food into substances


that can be absorbed into the blood and utilised by the
body tissues)

• Egestion (the removal of undigested food as waste)


The Mouth
• The mouth is located at the
beginning of the digestive tract

• Digestion starts in the mouth when


the first bite of food is taken

• Chewing breaks the food into


pieces that are more easily
digested

• Saliva (contains enzymes called


amylase) mixes with food to
begin the process of breaking it
down into a form your body can
absorb and use
The epiglottis

The function of the epiglottis is to block off


food and liquids from entering the windpipe
The Oesophagus
• The oesophagus is located
near the windpipe

• It receives food from the


mouth when you
swallow in the form of a
bolus (ball of food)

• Muscular contractions
called peristalsis, allow
food to be transported
from the oesophagus to
your stomach
The Stomach
• It takes food up to five
seconds to move from
the mouth to the
stomach

• The stomach holds


food while it is being
mixed with enzymes
that continue the
process of breaking
down food into a
usable form
• Gastric juice – Fluid secreted by various cell types in the
stomach wall; contains enzymes, water, mucus and
hydrochloric acid

• Food in the stomach is churned around by continual


contraction and relaxation of the muscle layers in the wall

• On average, food stays in the stomach between one to four


hours
The Small Intestine
• Small intestine is about 6.2 metres
long and 2.5 centimetres in diameter

• Food remains in the small intestine for


three to six hours

• The small intestine breaks down


food using enzymes released by
the pancreas and bile from the liver

• Most nutrient absorption occurs


during this stage (though villi)
Three main regions of the
small intestine:

• Duodenum (secretions from the


pancreas and the liver are
released here)

• Jejunum (connects duodenum


and ileum)

• Ileum (connects jejunum to


large intestine)
Digestion in the small intestine relies on secretions from the
intestine as well as secretions from three organs that lead into the
small intestine
• Pancreas
– helps with the digestion of fat, carbohydrate and protein
using the enzymes lipases, amylases and proteases
– helps to neutralise the stomach acid entering the small
intestine

• Liver
– Important organ
– produces bile
– stores glycogen

• Gall bladder
– stores bile
Enzymes

Saliva

Starch
Amino acids Fatty acids and
Sugar Glycerol
Absorption of nutrients in the
small intestine:

• Villi
– increase the surface area of the
small intestine
– increases rate at which
absorption occurs
The Large Intestine
• Consists of two main parts:
– Colon: Undigested food loses
water and becomes more solid to
create stool/faeces in the large
intestine
– Rectum: the stool is stored here
until evacuation occurs

• 1.5 metres long and 6.5


centimetres in diameter

• Vitamin D is manufactured here


from bacteria
• Colon – Connects small intestine to rectum

• Rectum – Final section of large intestine that ends at


the anus
The Anus
• The end of the digestive tract

• The waste products (undigested matter, acids etc) of


digestion are excreted from the body
The
Digestive
System
- flow
chart
The Digestive System

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