The Digestive System

Essential Questions What are the major systems of the human body? How does the digestive system help my body function? What are the major organs of the digestive system?

Let’s Review… Cellular Organization Cells that work together to perform a specific function form a _______________. Just as cells that work together form a tissue, tissues that work together form an _______________. Organs that work together to perform a function form an __________________ Example: circulatory system. tissue organ organ system

Look at it This Way… Organ Systems Organs Tissues Cell (basic unit of life)

DIGESTION! The Human Body Remember, organs that work together to do a job in the body are called organ systems. This week we will be looking at some of the major organ systems starting with… DIGESTION!

What’s the Purpose? The purpose of the Digestive System is to convert food particles into simpler molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and used by the body

Think of it This Way… The Digestive System breaks food down into smaller parts that our body needs for energy, growth, and repair. Did You Know?? Digestion begins as soon as you begin to chew your food!

Breaking Down Food As you chew your food, food is broken down into smaller parts. Glands in your mouth produce saliva. Saliva breaks down some of the carbohydrates. Chewing and saliva break down starchy foods (breads, pasta, potatoes, etc) into sugars for the body.

Try This… Try eating an unsalted cracker for a minute or two. What do you notice? The cracker begins to have a sweet taste. What’s Happening??? Your body is breaking down the starch in the cracker and turning it into sugar.

Moving on with Digestion From the mouth, food travels down the esophagus, the long tube that leads to the stomach. Your stomach has acid that breaks down the swallowed food.

More Digestion When food leaves your stomach and goes to your small intestine, it is a thick liquid. As food moves through the small intestine, nutrients are absorbed and passed into the blood. Whatever is not absorbed by the small intestine goes to the large intestine, where water and vitamins are absorbed. The remaining waste leaves your body when you use the restroom

Other Parts of the Digestive System Pancreas – produces the hormone insulin that regulates blood sugar levels. It also helps neutralize stomach acid Liver – produces bile, which breaks down fats in foods Gallbladder – pouch-like organ that stores bile for future use

The Big Idea!! Your body needs nutrients from food for energy and proper cell function.

Useless Human Body Facts Every human spent about half an hour as a single cell. An average human drinks about 16,000 gallons of water in a lifetime. Every time you lick a stamp, you're consuming 1/10 of a calorie.

Let’s Review Which of the following is not part of the digestive system? A. femur B. stomach C. liver D. salivary glands The femur is a major bone in your body! A.

Let’s Review The digestive process starts in the… A. esophagus B. mouth C. stomach D. restroom B.

Let’s Review What does the digestive system do? A. breaks down and handles food B. pumps blood throughout the body C. helps you breathe D. helps your arms and legs move A.

Let’s Review What tube moves food from the back of the throat to the stomach? A. pharynx B. feeding tube C. epiglottis D. esophagus D.

Let’s Review Which of the following is responsible for storing bile? Bile is needed to break down the fat that is found in food. A. liver B. gallbladder C. pancreas D. stomach B.

Let’s Review Where is the final place for digestion? A. small intestine B. stomach C. large intestine D. pancreas C.