Digestive System

Why is Digestion Important?

Cells cannot use the food eaten in that
form
The digestive system changes food into a
form that can be used by the cells
Enables nutrients to get into the blood so
they can be transported throughout the
body.
Components of Digestion
Introduction
Digestion
Mechanical and chemical breakdown of foods
into forms that body cells can absorb
1) Mechanical physical break down of food into smaller particles
- occurs in mouth and stomach
2) Chemical - biological catalysts & enzymes that break
macromolecules into their basic units
o Carbohydrates into glucose
o Proteins into amino acids
o Fats into glycerol and fatty acids
- occurs in mouth, stomach, intestines, and secretion from pancreas
The organs of the digestive system carry out
digestion
 Parts of the Digestive
System
1. Alimentary
canal organs
food actually
passes though
them

2. Accessory
organs food
does not pass
through them
but they
provide
important
substances for
digestion.
- Pancreas
- Gall bladder
Overview
Video
 The Mouth

Mechanical digestion
Takes in food and reduces its
size by chewing with teeth
called bolus
Tongue helps move food
around
Starts chemical digestion
Saliva secreted from glands
contains the enzyme amylase,
which breaks down
carbohydrates and lipase which
breaks down fats
Pharynx
Also known as throat
Connects nasal cavity with oral cavity for
breathing
Pushes food from the mouth into
esophagus
 Swallowing automatic process
1. Soft palate raises, uvula covers
Pharynx opening between nasal and
oral cavity
2. Epiglottis covers larynx,
keeping food out of it
3. Tongue presses against roof of
mouth, forcing food into back
of pharynx
4. Muscles in pharynx contract,
moving food toward
esophagus
5. Esophagus opens
6. Food is pushed into esophagus
Video: swallowing
The Esophagus
Muscular tube connecting pharynx to
stomach
It uses rhythmic, wave-like muscle
movements (called peristalsis) to force food
down.
This muscle movement gives us the ability to
eat or drink even when we're upside-down.
The Stomach
large, sack-like organ that churns the bolus
and bathes it in gastric juices.
Mechanical and Chemical Digestion
Lining of stomach
Rugae folds of the inner lining
Gastric glands
Mucous cells secrete mucus to protect the lining
Chief cells secrete pepsin which digests protein
Parietal cells
Hydrochloric acid

Chyme mixture of food and digestive juices

Stomach
Stomach absorbs:
alcohol
water
some fat soluble
drugs

Back
Sphincters/valves
2 valves control the entry/exit way of food
into stomach:

1.Gastroesophageal Sphincter - opening between

esophagus and stomach. It stops the acid in the
stomach from flowing back up (reflux) into the
esophagus
2.Pyloric Sphincter - opening to the small
intestine
Ulcers
No mucus left in stomach
Acid in stomach starts to
make a hole in stomach
Result of: smoking or
stress or a bacterial infection
Treatment with antibiotics has eliminated the
occurrence of ulcers in many people.
Small Intestine
Tubular organ extending from the stomach to
the large intestine

Three consecutive sections:

a) Duodenum
b) Jejunum
c) Ileum

80% of all absorption takes place in small intestine!

Small Intestine Functions
Chemical digestion
Intestinal glands
Mucus and water
Enzymes Secreted
Peptidases digest proteins
Sucrase, amylase, maltase, and lactase digest sugars
Lipase digests fats
Absorption of nutrients
Lining of small intestine
Fingerlike projections called villi increase surface area for the absorption
of nutrients
80% of all absorption takes place in small intestine
Nutrients are carried away to the liver and other body parts to be
processed, stored and distributed.
Layers of Small Intestine
Pancreas
Sits behind the stomach, finger shaped, about 15
cm long
Makes powerful digestive juices called enzymes
Enzymes help to digest food further as it enters
the small intestines.
It is involved in blood sugar regulation, as it
secretes the hormone insulin which is involved in
the breakdown of sugars
Enzymes in Pancreas
Releases sodium bicarbonate stops
acidity which protects intestine from
stomach acids
Releases lipase breaks down lipids (fats)
Releases amylase breaks down amylose
(carbohydrates)
Releases trypsin breaks down protein
Pancreas and Intestines
Gall Bladder
Small bag-like structure
Found under the liver
Stores bile (bile is made in liver)
As food comes into small intestine, bile is
secreted into the into the small intestine.
Bile helps break down fats into smaller
molecules and also contains wastes for
removal.
Gall Bladder and Intestines
Liver
Produces bile (bile is stored in the gall bladder)
Blood from the intestines flows to the liver,
carrying nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and
other products from digestion.
The liver is like a food-processing factory with
more than 200 different jobs, some of these
include:
o Storing of some nutrients
o Changing of nutrients to what body needs
o Detoxify blood of harmful substances like
alcohol and nicotine
Large Intestine (the Colon)
Extends from the small intestine to the anus
Consists of 4 parts

Absorbs water, body minerals (electrolytes) and vitamins B

&K
Also contains bacteria that helps synthesize important
vitamins
 The Rectum and Anal Canal

Rectum off sigmoid colon

Anal canal
Last few centimeters of rectum
Opening to outside of body is the anus

Large
Intestine
 The Rectum and Anal Canal

Feces
Leftover chyme
Consists of undigested solid materials,
little water, ions, mucus, cells of
intestinal lining, and bacteria
Defecation reflex
Triggered by periodic contractions of
large intestine
Allows anal sphincters to relax
Appendix
A tiny, three- or four-inch tube
Located where the small and large
intestine join
Studies suggest it contains helpful bacteria
that the large intestine uses to help absorb
vitamins
If inflamed can be dangerous (leads to
appendicitis)
Homeostasis
A mechanism by which your
body regulates processes so
as to maintain equilibrium
 Example of how homeostasis
works
A person eats a meal that includes sugar
Chemical receptors detect the increase in blood-sugar levels
The pancreas receive a message indicating the blood-sugar level
is high
The pancreas release the hormone insulin
Insulin causes liver and muscle cells to be more permeable to
glucose
Extra glucose is converted to glycogen for storage
Eventually, glucose levels decrease
Chemical receptors detect the decrease in blood-sugar level
The pancreas receive a message indicating that the blood-sugar
level is low
The pancreas release the hormone glucagon
This results in conversion of glycogen to glucose for use by the
cells
Enzymes and Macromolecules used
during Digestion

Carbohydrates
Amylase (made in salivary glands)
Pancreatic Amylase (made in pancreas)
Maltase (made in intestinal cells)

Glucose
Enzymes and Macromolecules used
during Digestion

Proteins
Pepsin (made in stomach)
Proteases (made in pancreas)
Peptidases (made in intestinal cells)

Amino acids
Enzymes and Macromolecules used during
Digestion

Fats (triglycerides)
Lipase (made in pancreas)

Glycerol &
Fatty Acids
Science Behind Appetite
Video
Digestive disorders
Three kinds:
1. Structural something wrong physically
Example: hernia
2. Malabsorptive cannot take in nutrients in small
intestine
3. Inflammatory unknown substances cause
inflammation and bleeding (bacteria, chemicals)
Complete the table to
summarize the following
disorders:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Ulcer
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Constipation
Diarrhea
Complete the table to
compare DIAGNOSTIC
TOOLS:
Endoscopy
Biopsy
Colonoscopy