Topic: Human Digestive System

The human digestive system is a system of organs and glands which digest and absorb food and its nutrients. There are two types of breakdown of food: mechanical and chemical. Human digestive systems start at the mouth and ends at the anus About 9 meters in total length

Have mechanical and chemical processes Mechanical: food is broken down from larger pieces into smaller pieces, known as mastication or chewing Chemical: uses saliva which contains a digestive enzyme, salivary amylase Salivary amylase breaks down starches (monosaccharide) into maltose (disaccharide) The food is then swallowed and travels down into the esophagus then into the stomach via a process called peristalsis Peristalsis= wave like movements which propel food down into our stomach

Is a large organ which can be referenced as being a J-shaped pouch Churns food and contains a strong acid (gastric acid) which breaks down food so it can be fully digested and absorbed by the small intestine Contains 2 types of cells Parietal Cells= secrete gastric acid Chief Cells= release pepsinogen and gastric lipase These two cells work in conjunction with eachother to convert pepsinogen into pepsin This food is now known as chyme due it becoming partly digested and mixing with gastric acid

Food from the stomach enters the duodenum Duodenum= 1 st section of the small intestine This chyme is then mixed with 3 liquids 1. Bile (made in liver)= emulsify fats and neutralizes chyme 2.Pancreatic juices which are made from the pancreas 3. Intestinal enzymes (sugars, trypsin, chymotrypsin) This chyme goes from the duodenum to the jejenum and to the ileum, all of which are part of the small intestine

Food will enter the cecum of the large intestine from the ileum of the small intestine Waters and salts (electrolytes) are removed from the food and absorbed into the body 3 parts: Cecum, Colon, and Rectum The food that was not digested or absorbed will be mixed with other waste products from the body and form feces Feces are stored in the rectum until they can be eliminated from the body Elimination occurs in the anus and is regulated by the anal sphincter muscle

(Start) Mouth Esophagus Stomach Small Intestine Large Intestine Anus (End)