Digestive System

Primary Function of Digestive System  Used to breakdown the food.  The body absorbs the nutrients and uses it for energy.

Organs in the Digestive System  Mouth  Esophagus  Stomach  Small Intestine  Large Intestine  Rectum  Liver  Gallbladder  Pancreas  Appendix

Mouth  Teeth grind the food and salivary glands release enzymes that partially digest the food in the mouth before it is passed to the stomach through the esophagus.  Purpose: break down the food and wet the food for easier transportation.

Esophagus  Connects the throat to the stomach. It uses rhythmic, wave- like muscle movements (called peristalsis) to force food from the throat into the stomach.  Purpose: transportation of food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. The chewed food is passed through the food pipe by the process of peristalsis.

Stomach  Serves as the mixer and grinder of food. The stomach secretes acid and powerful enzymes that continue the process of breaking the food down and changing it to a consistency of liquid or paste.  Purpose: The function of the stomach is to churn and turn the food into a liquid called chyme.

Small Intestine  The digested food is then taken into the small intestine and the waste is passed on to the large intestine.  Purpose: absorption of food (nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc. ) takes place.

Large Intestine  In the large intestine, water and electrolytes (chemicals like sodium) are removed from the food.  Purpose: Eliminates the water that’s left over after absorbing everything else that it needs.

Rectum  The rectum stores the undigested waste (food) and gets rid of the waste when the need comes. This is the final part of the human digestive system.  Purpose: keep the intestine sealed shut until the need to pass feces, and assists in the moving of the feces out of the body.

Liver  Produces bile (a substance that helps to break down fats) which is transferred to the gallbladder where it is stored until needed for digestion.  The liver converts glucose into glycogen. Glycogen = energy.

Gallbladder  Storage sac for excess bile. Helps absorb fats in the diet and carries waste from the liver that cannot go through the kidneys.  Fat doesn’t dissolve in water, bile in gallbladder helps break down fat.

Pancreas  Source of powerful digestive enzymes required to chemically break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins.  Pancreas produces insulin (regulates sugar level).

Appendix 3 Theories  Digest plant food  Manufacture white blood cells  Attract infections  Over thousands of years humans have needed the appendix less.

Appendicitis  Appendicitis means inflammation of the appendix. Begins when the opening becomes blocked due to a build-up of thick mucus or stool. The mucus or stool hardens becoming rock-like.  Appendicitis most common with 10 – 30 year olds.

Acid Reflux/Heartburn  movement of stomach acid into the esophagus, a burning sensation in the chest that can extend to the neck, throat, and face  Foods that can worsen acid reflux are citrus fruits, chocolate, drinks with caffeine, fatty, fried, spicy foods.

Gall Stones  A small, hard crystalline mass formed abnormally in the gallbladder or bile ducts from bile pigments, cholesterol, and calcium salts. Gallstones can cause severe pain and blockage of the bile duct  Gallstones can be the size of a grain of salt or a golf ball.

Lactose Intolerance  disorder consisting of an inability to digest milk and milk products, deficiency of enzyme produced by the cells lining the small intestine.  Can cause abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, gas, and diarrhea.

Food Poisoning  Illness caused by bacteria or other toxins characterized by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  Food poisoning is acquired through poor sanitation of food or preparation of food.