Digestion Function: Food is broken down by the digestive system into a usable form the cells can use.

Where does the digestive system start and end? Mouth Pharynx esophagus stomach small intestine large intestine (also called the colon) rectum anus

Enzymes help speed up the changing of food into a usable form Fats, proteins and carbs must be broken down by enzymes Vitamins, Minerals and water do not have to be broken down.

II. Trip through the Digestive System 1. Mouth 2. Esophagus 3. Stomach 4. Small Intestine - pancreas - liver - gallbladder 5. Large intestine 6. Anus Organ Chart SNEAK PEEK

1. Mouth: Where food enters Time spent: Few minutes Production of saliva is the first step in digestion (sometimes before you even start eating) Tongue moves it around and the saliva produced coats and lubricates the food for easier chewing and swallowing. Teeth cause only a mechanical change. Saliva also contains an enzyme called amylase chemically break down certain carbohydrates

2. Pharynx Tube connecting mouth to the esophagus As you swallow the epiglottis covers the windpipe so food does not go down the wrong tube. Lasts a few seconds No digestion occurs here

3. Esophagus Tube connecting mouth to stomach Few seconds No digestion occurs here Peristalsis (muscle contractions) send the food down the tube until it reaches the sphincter (start of the stomach) Esophagus video

4. Into the Stomach As food approaches, the sphincter valve opens causing food to go into the stomach. Time spent: 4 hours Physical change: mixes and churns the food Chemical change: 2 enzymes - Pepsin and Rennin Acid that breaks down food and bacteria Stores and processes food.

Chemical change in the stomach Pepsin: breaks down protein Rennin: enzyme that turns milk into cheese Let’s view the stomach!

5. Through the Small Intestine Most chemical digestion and absorption occurs here! 18-39 feet long on average... That's 4 -5 x's longer than you! The small intestine itself does not make enzymes, but 3 other organs not in the digestive tract deliver enzymes to the small intestine All 3 nutrients are digested via 3 other organs Time: 12 hours to digest and absorb

Three parts to the Small Intestine: 1. Duodenum Located at the junction of the stomach and the small intestine Receives bile from the gallbladder, and other digestive enzymes from the pancreas Bulk of the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates takes place in the duodenum before the material travels further into the small intestine

Three parts to the Small Intestine: 2. Jejunum coiled mid-section of the small intestine 3. Ileum final portion of the small intestine, which leads into the large intestine contain very small finger-like bumbumps called 'villi‘, which improves the small intestine's ability to absorb nutrients.

The Pancreas The pancreas produces 3 enzymes Lipase: breaks down fats Protease: Breaks down protein Amylase: Breaks down carbs Delivers these enzymes to small intestine through the pancreatic duct pancreas is a small flat organ (about 18-25 cm long) that is located behind the stomach and sits close to the duodenum

The Liver: Largest organ of the body (except the skin) Makes bile: liver is the body's 'detoxifier‘ Ammonia - a toxic product arising from the digestion of proteins, is converted into the less toxic 'urea' by the liver and then transferred to the kidneys Largest organ of the body (except the skin) Makes bile: BILE: Green, smelly liquid Breaks fats into smaller fat droplets Delivers the bile to the gallbladder for storage Located in the upper abdomen to the right of the stomach, below diaphragm

The GallBladder Stores Bile (physical change) Delivers the bile when needed to the small intestine via the Hepatic Duct If the bile hardens it forms gallstones. small (10 cm long) pear-shaped organ that is located near the duodenum and the liver.

How are nutrients absorbed? Absorption: movement of chemicals into or out of an organ Has villi on the inside that have blood vessels that carry nutrients throughout the body Villi increase the intestinal surface area More surface =more absorption

6. Large intestine Once in the large intestine: digestion is already complete. Large intestine only does physical changes: removes water from undigested food and begins to produce feces. Time: 4 hours 3 parts: Ascending (up) Transverse (across) Descending (down) Also contains: caecum, appendix, colon and rectum

7. ANUS: Where waste is excreted! Appendix has no known function and is thought to be a remnant from a previous time in human evolution. Rectum rectum is the final part of the large intestine. where stool (feces) is stored before being passed as a bowel motion. 7. ANUS: Where waste is excreted! Nervous system triggers the urge to pass stool Surrounded by strong sphincter muscles.

Problems of Digestive System -Heartburn Acid moves into the esophagus Caused by eating too much food Many people get acid reflux disease Take an antacid such as rolaids, tums, pepto-bismol

Problems Of Digestive System -Gallstones Bile stores up and hardens either in the liver or the gallbladder Block pathways for digestion have to have them surgically removed

Problems of Digestive System ULCERS Sore or hole on inside the stomach or small intestine Caused by too much HCl & pepsin being produced Enzymes eat away at stomach lining Causes burning sensation in stomach Stress can bring on an ulcer or it is just natural production of too much acid Prescribed medicine for extreme cases Minor cases can uses Pepsid AC

Problems of Digestive System -Appendicitis Swelled appendix Bacteria builds up from stuck food Causes severe pain on lower right side of body Appendectomy – the removal of the appendix

Problems of Digestive System Constipation Too much water is absorbed by the large intestine Can be a virus or something one eats Over the counter medicines usually take care of the problem Pepto-bismol, eating more roughage (lettuce), etc.

Problems of Digestive System Diarrhea Not enough water is absorbed by the large intestine Runny stools Caused by bacteria or virus or something one ate Over the counter medicines such as pepto-bismol will help