Ms. Bowman

Functions Takes food in Breaks food down into nutrient molecules Absorbs nutrients into the bloodstream Rids the body of indigestible remains Organs of digestive system fall into 2 categories Those of alimentary canal Accessory organs

Also called gastrointestinal (GI) tract Continuous muscular digestive tube that winds through the body Functions Digests food Absorbs nutrients through lining into the blood Organs Mouth Pharynx Esophagus Stomach Small intestine Large intestine Anus

Over 30 ft in length The food material in this canal is technically outside the body because the canal is open to the external environment at both ends

Teeth Tongue Gallbladder Salivary glands Liver pancreas

1.Ingestion-taking food into the mouth 2.Propulsion-moves food through the alimentary canal o Includes swallowing and peristalsis (major means of propulsion; involves alternating waves of contraction and relaxation of muscles in the organ walls 3.Mechanical Digestion-physically prepares food for chemical digestion by enzymes o Includes chewing, mixing of food with saliva by tongue, churning food in the stomach, and segmentation (mixes food with digestive juices and increases efficiency of absorption) 4.Chemical Digestion-series of catabolic steps in which food molecules are broken down into their chemical building blocks o Food broken down by enzymes o Starts in the mouth and is complete in the small intestine

5.Absorption-passage of digested end products from the GI tract through the mucosal cells into the blood or lymph o Small intestine is the major absorptive site 6.Defecation-eliminates indigestible substances from the body via the anus in the form of feces