THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

HANDOUTS
INTRODUCTION o Deglutition (Swallowing) - the movement
of food from the mouth into the pharynx,
The digestive system is a complex set of then into the esophagus.
organs, glands, and ducts that work together to o Peristalsis - the movements that propel
transform food into nutrients for cells. food particles through the digestive tract,
rhythmic waves of contractions that move
Food is taken into the digestive system
the food particles through the various regions
where it is broken down to smaller and smaller
in which digestion takes place.
particles which are then absorbed into the blood.
They are then transported all over the body and are PARTS OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
utilized by the body cells in metabolism.
The digestive system consists of the
FUNCTIONS/ACTIVITIES gastrointestinal tract, or GI or digestive tract,
plus specified associated organs.
The digestive system prepares nutrients for
utilization by body cells through certain activities,
which are also considered as its functions. The main
functions of the digestive system include the
following:

 Ingestion - the consumption of food,

usually through the mouth, has to take place
before anything else can happen.
 Digestion - the breakdown of large organic
molecules into smaller molecules that can be
absorbed, occurs through chemical and
mechanical means.
 Absorption - the movement of molecules
out of the digestive and into the blood or
lymphatic system.
 Elimination - the removal of undigested
material (such as fibers from food) plus other
waste products from the body as feces.

DIGESTION

o Mechanical Digestion - begins in the I. GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

mouth with chewing or mastication and
continues with churning and mixing actions The gastrointestinal tract (GI/digestive tract) is
in the stomach. series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube
o Chemical Digestion - through a process that connect from the mouth to the anus. The hollow
called hydrolysis, uses water and digestive organs that make up the GI tract are the oral cavity,
enzymes to break down molecules of pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large
carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are intestine, rectum, and anus.
transformed into smaller molecules that can
1. Oral Cavity (Mouth) - The normal location for
be absorbed and utilized by the cells.
ingestion of food. It is where food is initially
Chemical digestion,
chewed into shreds that are more easily digested
MOVEMENT by the teeth and mixed with saliva by the
tongue. Saliva is secreted into the mouth by
o Mastication (Chewing) - breaks down three pairs of salivary glands.
large food into smaller ones as lips and
cheeks move the food around the oral cavity
and hold it in place while teeth tear it.
 o Chyme - A semifluid mixture of food and
stomach secretions.
5. Small Intestine - It is a long tube-like organ
that connects the stomach and the large intestine.
Major site of digestion and absorption. It helps to
further digest food coming from the stomach. It
absorbs nutrients and water from food so they
can be used by the body. It is composed of three
regions: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
 Duodenum - Acts as a “mixing bowl”,
2. Pharynx (Throat) - The region in the back of receives chyme from the stomach and
the throat that serves as the entrance to the digestive secretions from liver, gallbladder,
esophagus (that connects to the stomach) and and pancreas. It has few circular folds and
trachea. To block breathing as food leaves the small villi.
pharynx, a flap-like valve (the epiglottis) and the  Jejunum - Between duodenum and ileum,
vocal cords close off the trachea. has numerous circular folds and long,
abundant villi. It is where the majority of
chemical digestion and nutrient absorption
occurs.
 Ileum - Final segment of small intestine,
contains villi similar to the jejunum, connects
to the large intestine.

3. Esophagus - Connects the pharynx with the

stomach. No digestion takes place within the
esophagus but the contractions within its
muscular walls propel the food into the stomach.
The rhythmic waves of contraction of the smooth
muscle wall of the esophagus are called
peristaltic contractions or peristalsis.

o Villi - Tiny, finger-like structures that

line the insides of the small intestine and
absorb nutrients from the chyme.
6. Large Intestine - A muscular tube that
connects the small intestine to the rectum. First,
it reabsorbs water and compacts intestinal
contents into feces. Second, it absorbs
important vitamins generated by bacterial
4. Stomach - A muscular, stretchable sac located actions. Third, it stores fecal matter prior to
just below the diaphragm. It mixes and stores defecation.
ingested food. It secretes stomach enzymes or
gastric juice that helps dissolve and degrade
the food into a usable form. It regulates the
passage of food into the small intestine.

 Rectum - A short extension of the large

intestine and is the final segment of the
digestive tract. It is where the compacted
undigested food from the large intestine/
colon are pushed via peristaltic contractions.
Its distention triggers the expulsion of feces.
7. Anus - The terminal opening of the digestive
system through which feces are expelled.

5. Gallbladder - stores bile produced by the liver.

When eating, the gallbladder squeezes bile
through the bile ducts into the small intestine.
II. ASSOCIATED/ACCESSORY ORGANS

1. Teeth - They break down food for swallowing

and further digestion. There are 32 permanent
teeth, including incisors, canines, premolars, and
molars. 6. Pancreas - makes a digestive juice that has
enzymes that break down carbohydrates, fats,
and proteins. It delivers the digestive juice to the
small intestine through small tubes called ducts.

2. Tongue - Facilitates the movement of food

during mastication and assists swallowing.
Manipulates materials inside the mouth. It is also
involved in speech and taste. FLOW OF DIGESTION

Mouth - ingestion, mechanical and chemical

digestion. The digestive process starts in the
mouth when chewing (mastication). The salivary
glands make saliva that is mixed with the food by
the tongue and is pushed to the pharynx and then
to the esophagus.

Esophagus. Once swallowing begins, the process

becomes automatic. The brain signals the muscles
of the esophagus and peristalsis begins. Peristalsis
3. Salivary Glands - They produce saliva, a
pushes the food down the esophagus into the
mixture of secretions that help lubricate and
stomach.
break down food.
Stomach - mechanical and chemical digestion.
After food enters the stomach, the stomach muscles
mix the food and liquid with digestive juices. The
stomach slowly empties its contents, called chyme,
into the small intestine.

Small intestine - chemical digestion and

absorption of nutrients and minerals. The
muscles of the small intestine mix food with
 Saliva - Lubricates the mouth and throat, aids
digestive juices from the pancreas, liver, further
in swallowing and digestion, and helps shield
digestion. The walls of the small intestine absorb
teeth from cavity-causing bacteria.
water and the digested nutrients into the
4. Liver - It makes a digestive juice called bile that
bloodstream. As peristalsis continues, the waste
helps digest fats and some vitamins. Bile ducts
products of the digestive process move into the large
carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder for
intestine.
storage, or to the small intestine for use.
Large intestine - absorption of water. The large  Pancreatitis. Inflammation of the pancreas.
intestine absorbs water and changes the waste from It’s usually temporary (acute) but can also be a
liquid into feces. Peristalsis helps move the feces into life-long (chronic) condition. The most common
the rectum. symptom is abdominal pain. The most common
causes are alcohol use and gallstones.
Rectum and anus - elimination. The lower end
of the large intestine, the rectum, stores stool until
it pushes stool out of the anus during a bowel
movement.

DISEASES

 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. It occurs

when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the
esophagus. This backwash (acid reflux) can  Bloating. It is a feeling that the stomach is
irritate the lining of the esophagus. overly full or stretched. One may also have
cramps, burping, diarrhea, constipation, swelling
and a lot of gas.

 Gallstones. Occur when hardened deposits of

digestive fluid, or bile, form in the gallbladder.

 Diarrhea. Characterized by loose, watery

stools (bowel movement). Most cases of
diarrhea are due to bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
Its symptoms include increased stool frequency,
volume, and fluidity. It can cause dehydration.

 Peptic ulcer. Occur when open sores, or ulcers,

form in the lining of the stomach or duodenum
due to the acids in the digestive tract.

PROPER CARE

Do's

● Do a regular schedule for food.

 Ulcerative colitis. It is an inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ● Drink a lot of water.
ulcers (sores) in the innermost lining of the large ● Drink herbal teas.
intestine, also called the colon, and rectum.
● Do restrict alcohol intake.

Don'ts

● Don't eat too quickly.

● Don't overeat late at night.

● Don't sleep or nap straight after eating.

● Don't eat more than 5 foods.