The Journey of a Cupcake The Digestive System                                             

The Journey Begins Little Debby’s journey starts in the mouth. She gets chewed up by the teeth, and this is the first stage in digestion.

Little Debby Gets Swallowed After she gets chewed up, she is swallowed. From the mouth, she goes down the esophagus to the stomach.

Traveling Down the Esophagus No digestion takes place in the esophagus. It’s wrapped in sheets of smooth muscle. Food pushed down by a series of contractions called peristalsis.

Entering the Stomach Proteins start being dismantled in the stomach. Juices enter from valves in the stomach wall. A valve called the sphincter prevents food from going back up the esophagus.

More Info About the Stomach The stomach stores and breaks down food. The stomach chemically & mechanically breaks down proteins. Gastric juice called HCL is secreted by the stomach’s lining, which has a thick layer of mucus coting it, which prevents it from digesting itself.

Little Debbie Reaches the Small Intestine Digestion and absorption occur in the small intestine. Here, it uses enzymes produced by the pancreas. They enter the small intestine through the pancreatic duct ( Pancreas )

Let’s Not Forget the Liver The liver is the size of a football. It performs metabolic functions. It supplies quick energy by releasing sugars and makes proteins. The liver also stores vitamins and minerals, and produces bile salts. It also regulates blood clotting, monitors cholesterol, and detoxifies alcohol.

The Gallbladder The gallbladder is an active storage shed. It absorbs minerals, salt and water received from the liver and converts them into bile. The bile is released when food is in the stomach. Bile emulsifies fat so it can be digested. http://www.brainpop.com/health/digestive/digestion/index.weml

Little Debbie Explores the Small Intestine The first part of the small intestine is called the duodenum. The complete digestion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins occurs here. The rest of the small intestine absorbs water. The inner lining is covered with finger like projections called villi, which increase surface area of the small intestine.

Little Debbie Makes it to the Large Intestine Solids are compacted in the large intestine. The large intestine is much shorter than the small intestine.Fluid and sodium are absorbed through the walls -- the main job is to act like a trash compacter.

Little Debbie’s Journey is Almost Over After Little Debbie leaves the large intestine, she remains in the rectum, which is an extensive chamber of the large intestine. Finally she leaves through the anus. Rectum 

THE END OF HER JOURNEY Even though her journey through the digestive system is over, Little Debbie will continue to travel…