Digestive System

Functions Read page 225 to find the 3 functions of the digestive system List them in your book

Functions To digest food (mechanical digestion occurs when food is chewed, mixed, and churned) (Chemical digestion- when chemical reactions break down large molecules of food) To absorb nutrients into the blood stream To eliminate (release) solid waste

Organs and their jobs Read about the mouth, tongue, and teeth and describe their job in the digestive system page 228

Functions of Mouth, tongue, and teeth Mouth - Where mechanical digestion begins when teeth bite and tear food Tongue moves food and mixes it with saliva (chemical digestion) Tongue pushes food to the back of throat to swallow

Esophagus Read about the esophagus on page 228 and tell it functions

Functions of Esophagus Connects the mouth to the stomach Mucous glands keeps food moist as it travels to stomach Smooth muscles in the wall of the esophagus move the food down through a squeezing action called peristalsis

Stomach Read about and list the functions of the stomach Page 229

Functions of the Stomach Food is mixed and broken down by peristalsis (squeezing) in the stomach (mechanical digestion) Food is also mixed with enzymes and hydrochloric acid to break it down chemically (chemical digestion) Adds mucus to the food to help keep it moist for digestion and to protect the walls of the stomach

Small Intestine Read about the functions of the small intestine on page 230.

Functions of small intestine Small amount of digestion occurs at the beginning of the small intestine (chemical digestion) Absorption of the food nutrients into the blood stream occurs in the rest of the small intestine (it is absorbed by fingerlike projections called villi) Peristalsis of the muscles in the small intestine moves the food

Large intestine Read page 231 about the large intestine

Functions of the Large intestine To absorb water from the undigested food This keeps water in your body and keeps the body in homeostasis The solid food then goes to the rectum and waits to be released through the anus

Liver and Gallbladder Read page 230 to find out information on the liver and gallbladder

Function of Liver/Gallbladder Liver produces a green fluid called bile The bile is sent to the gallbladder to be stored The bile is then sent to the small intestine where it breaks down fat molecules

Pancreas Read about the Pancreas on page 230

Functions of the Pancreas Release digestive juice that help the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats Makes insulin a hormone that allows glucose to pass into the blood stream