Digestive

System
Human nutrition involves the following
processes:
1. Ingestion
-Intake of food into the body

2. Digestion
- The process of mechanical and chemical
breakdown, whereby large food molecules are
broken down into simpler molecules that can be
absorbed by the body cells.
3. Absorption
- the process in which digested food materials are
absorbed by the body cells.
4. Elimination
- passing of digested material out of digestive tract.
 Digestion
 Physical digestion (mechanical)
- is the mechanical breakdown of food into smaller
particles.
• Chew
• Tear
• Grind
• Mash
• Mix
 Chemical digestion
-is the breakdown of complex molecules.
• Enzymatic reactions to improve digestion of
– Carbohydrates
– Proteins
– Lipids
 Digestive System Organization
• Gastrointestinal (Gl) tract
– Tube within a tube
– Direct link/path between organs
– Structures
• Mouth
• Pharynx
• Esophagus
• Stomach
• Small intestine
• Large Intestine
• Rectum

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 Mouth
• Teeth- mechanically • Epiglottis -is a flap-like
break down food into structure at the back of
small pieces. the throat that closes
• Tongue- mixes food over the trachea
with saliva (contains preventing food from
amylase, which helps entering it. It is located
break down starch). in the Pharynx.
• Pharynx- common
passage for food and air.
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Premolars
Canine – to tear food like a fork
-crushing and grinding food into smaller pieces
Incisor – to cut food like a pair of scissors.
to make it easier to swallow.
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Molars – can grind food
 Esophagus
• Approximately 20 cm long.
• Functions include:
1. Secrete mucus
2. Moves food from the throat to
the stomach using muscle
movement called peristalsis
• If acid from the stomach gets in
here that’s heartburn.
• J-shaped muscular bag Stomach
that stores the food you
eat, breaks it down into
tiny pieces.
• Mixes food with
Digestive Juices(gastric
juice) that contain
enzymes to break down
Proteins and Lipids.
• Acid (HCl) in the stomach
Kills Bacteria.
• Food found in the
stomach is called Chyme.
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 Small Intestine
• Small intestines are roughly 6 meters long
• Most chemical digestion happen.
• Lining of intestine walls has finger-like projections called
villi, to increase surface area.
• 3 parts
 Duodenum -connects to the stomach.
 Jejunum - in the central section of the abdomen
 Ileum - the last part of the small intestine

Crash Course Review

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 Small Intestine
• Nutrients from the food pass into the
bloodstream through the small
intestine walls.

• Absorbs:
– 80% ingested water
– Vitamins
– Minerals
– Carbohydrates
– Proteins
– Lipids

• Secretes digestive enzymes

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 Large Intestine

• also known as
the large bowel
• About 1.5 meters long
• Accepts what small
intestines don’t absorb
• Rectum (short term
storage which holds feces
before it is expelled).
 Large Intestine
• Functions
– Bacterial digestion
• Ferment
carbohydrates

– Absorbs more water

– Concentrate wastes
 Accessory Organs The Glands

• Not part of the path

of food, but play a
critical role.

• Include: Liver, gall

bladder, and
pancreas
 Liver

• Directly affects digestion

by producing bile
– Bile helps digest fat

• filters out toxins and

waste including drugs
and alcohol and
poisons.

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 Gall Bladder

• Stores bile
from the liver,
releases it into
the small
intestine.
• Fatty diets can
cause
gallstones
 Pancreas
• Produces digestive
enzymes to digest
fats, carbohydrates
and proteins
• Regulates blood
sugar by producing
insulin
Common Disorders and Diseases of the Digestive
System:

 Diarrhea
 Constipation
 Gallstones
 Peptic Ulcer- open sores
• Esophageal ulcer- esophagus
• Gastric ulcer- stomach
• Duodenal ulcer-
 Hemorrboids - rectal inflammation.
 Appendicitis- inflammation of appendicitis

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Disorders Associated with Improper or
insufficient diet

 Malnutrition – is a condition acquired when

people do not take the right kind of
food
 Over nutrition- health problems by eating too
much.

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Eating Disorder
Anorexia
- People suffering anorexia nervosa restrict their food
and drink intake under dangerous level.

Bulimia
-is
an eating disorder characterized by episodes of
secretive excessive eating followed by self –induced
vomiting, overuse of laxatives or excessive exercise.

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 On a sheet of paper, write the name of each
colored organ:
• Green:
• Red:
• Pink:
• Brown:
• Purple:
• Green:
• Yellow:
 How’d you do?
• Green: Esophagus
• Red: Stomach
• Pink: Small Intestine
• Brown: Large Intestine
• Purple: Liver
• Green: Gall Bladder
• Yellow: Pancreas

Great Job!
 References and Links
• Your Digestive System and How It Works
– Digestive system diagram comes from this site
• The Real Deal on the Digestive System
• Pancreas: Introduction and Index
• Your Gross and Cool Body - Digestive System
• Laurentian Regional High School Data Base
- you must know the Username and Password