DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Digestive system Changes the food you eat into nutrients that your cells can use. Changes energy stored in food into energy the body can use to grow, develop, and function regularly.

Digestion As food moves through the D.S., it is chemically changed into particles that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

DIGESTION PROCESS Mouth – teeth cut and grind food, food is mixed with saliva. Saliva – moistens and softens food so it can be swallowed.

DIGESTION PROCESS Saliva – liquid produced by the salivary glands. Consists of 99% water and an enzyme that starts digestion of carbohydrates.

DIGESTION PROCESS After being swallowed, your food enters your esophagus. Esophagus – muscular tube that pushes food down into stomach.

DIGESTION PROCESS Stomach – muscular organ in which food is held while digestion continues. Muscular walls of stomach churn food and mix it with gastric juice, a mixture of acid and enzymes. The enzymes in the stomach begin the digestion of proteins.

DIGESTION PROCESS Partially digested food moves from your stomach to your small intestine. Small intestine – a coiled, tubelike organ about 20 feet long. Most digestion takes place in the first section of the S.I. called the duodenum.

Liver, Gallbladder, and Pancreas Included as part of digestive system, even though no food passes through them. (Pancreas is also part of the endocrine system) Changes sugar into a form of starch that can be stored in body until needed. Helps maintain blood sugar levels. Removes worn out red blood cells.

Liver, Gallbladder, and Pancreas Changes toxic waste materials into toxic substances. Stores fat-soluble vitamins.

LIVER Liver – the largest gland in the body. The liver produces bile, a substance that aids in the digestion of fats.

COMMON LIVER PROBLEMS Jaundice – results when bile pigments build up in the blood. A blocked bile duct or a liver disease may be responsible

COMMON LIVER PROBLEMS Hepatitis – an inflammatory disease usually caused by alcohol or drug use. B/c the liver spends so much time breaking down alcohol and drugs it has little time to perform other important functions. Hepatitis often leads to cirrhosis

COMMON LIVER PROBLEMS Cirrhosis – condition marked by complete destruction of liver cells. Avoid alcohol and drugs to avoid these liver problems

GALLBLADDER Gallbladder – a small baglike organ. Stores the bile produced by the liver and releases it into the small intestine when needed.

PANCREAS Pancreas – produces three digestive enzymes. These are released into the small intestine.

WASTE Removing wastes Your body produces 3 kinds of wastes.

WASTE –Solid wastes are made up of foods that have not been digested. –Liquid wastes and carbon dioxide gas are products formed by your cells. –Carbon dioxide (Gas) is removed by your lungs when you exhale.

WASTE Your skin removes some wastes through pores. The remaining wastes are removed by your liver, kidneys, bladder, and large intestine.

Kidneys, Bladder, and Large intestine Many wastes in your body are dissolved in water.

BLADDER Excretion – the process of removing liquid wastes from the body. (urine) Water and undigested food that your body cannot use, pass into your large intestine, also known as your colon.

LARGE INTESTINE The lining of the colon absorbs the liquid, the solid wastes that remain are called feces. When the large intestine is full, nerves signal muscles in the walls of the large intestine to contract. Feces passes out of the body through the anus.

KIDNEYS Kidneys – filter water and dissolve wastes from the blood and help maintain proper levels of water and salts in your body. The waste products filtered out by the kidneys form urine.

KIDNEYS AND BLADDER Ureters – narrow tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Urine is stored in the bladder. A signal from your nervous system releases urine into the urethra, a narrow tube that carries urine from the body.

Problems of the Digestive System Usually related to eating habits, and types of food eaten Temporary and minor Sometimes a medical checkup may be necessary

Common Disorders of the Digestive System Indigestion, Diarrhea, Ulcers, Cirrhosis, Gallstones, Kidney stones, Appendicitis, Hemorrhoids, and Colon cancer