The Digestive System

Proteins are broken down into smaller peptides and amino acids by enzymes like pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase, and dipeptidases in the stomach and small intestine.

Lipids are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol via emulsification by bile salts and hydrolysis by pancreatic lipase in the small intestine.

Carbohydrates, like starch, are broken down into simpler sugars (e.g., glucose) by enzymes like amylase in the mouth and small intestine.

Most nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine, specifically the jejunum.

Nutrient absorption in the small intestine involves simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport.

The process of breaking down food into smaller molecules that your body can absorb and use for energy and building blocks.

Liquids produced by your digestive system that contain enzymes, which help break down food.

Amylase, an enzyme found in saliva and pancreatic juice, helps break down starch into maltose (a type of sugar) and eventually into glucose.

Enzymes like pepsin (in the stomach) and trypsin/chymotrypsin (in the pancreas) break down proteins into smaller peptides and eventually amino acids.

The small intestine is the main site of nutrient absorption, meaning it's where most of the broken-down food is taken into your bloodstream for your body to use.

Pepsinogen is a precursor enzyme that gets activated in the stomach's acidic environment to form pepsin, which breaks down proteins into smaller peptides.

Chyme is a creamy mixture of partially digested food and gastric juices formed in the stomach by churning and mixing.

The stomach is not just a storage vessel; it also churns food into chyme, breaks down proteins, and controls the flow of chyme into the small intestine.

The pyloric sphincter is a muscular valve that regulates the passage of chyme from the stomach to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.

The small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption, with most digestion occurring here.

The duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, receives chyme from the stomach and is where chemical breakdown of food begins.

Bile duct from the gallbladder and the pancreatic duct from the pancreas both deliver essential digestive fluids into the duodenum.

Villi are tiny finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase its surface area for maximum nutrient absorption.

A long tube that runs from your mouth to your rectum, responsible for digesting food and absorbing nutrients.

It takes food, breaks it down into small molecules, absorbs these molecules, and gets rid of waste.

Ingestion (taking in food), Propulsion (moving food along), Digestion (breaking down food), Absorption (taking in nutrients), Elimination (getting rid of waste)

To convert food into usable nutrients that can be absorbed and distributed throughout the body.

It uses mucus, low pH, enzymes, and lysozyme to fight off invaders.

The mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and rectum.

Salivary glands, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.

Adventitia/Serosa, Muscularis, Submucous, and Mucosa.

The bile duct carries bile from the gallbladder to the duodenum, while the pancreatic duct carries pancreatic juice from the pancreas to the duodenum. These fluids contribute to digestion.

The small intestine is divided into three parts: the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum.

The pancreatic duct and the common bile duct both connect to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.

The small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption, where most of the broken-down food is absorbed into the bloodstream.

The liver is the largest solid organ and the largest gland in the body. It plays many vital roles, including filtering blood, producing bile, and storing energy.

The gallbladder is a small organ that stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver. It releases bile into the small intestine to help digest fats.

Bile is a greenish fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It helps emulsify fats, breaking them down into smaller droplets for digestion.

The pancreas is both an endocrine and exocrine gland. The endocrine part produces hormones like insulin and glucagon, while the exocrine part produces digestive enzymes.

Pancreatic fluid contains enzymes like amylase, lipase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin, which break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It also contains bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid.

The liver produces bile, which emulsifies fats, making them easier to digest. It also plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels, detoxifying harmful substances, and storing vitamins and minerals.

The large intestine is primarily responsible for absorbing remaining water from indigestible food matter, storing and eliminating waste, and absorbing vitamins produced by gut bacteria.

Gas production in the large intestine is due to bacterial fermentation of undigested material. This process involves bacteria breaking down food that our bodies don't have enzymes for.

Bile, produced by the liver, contains bile salts and phospholipids that help emulsify fats, breaking them down into smaller droplets for easier digestion by enzymes.

The rectum stores solid waste until it is eliminated from the body through the anus. It helps control bowel movements with the help of sphincters.

Gut bacteria are essential for synthesizing vitamins, especially vitamin K and certain B vitamins, and digesting polysaccharides that our bodies cannot break down. This contributes to the absorption of around 10% of our daily calories.

The process of breaking down food into smaller molecules that the body can absorb and use for energy and growth.

Liquids produced by the digestive system that contain enzymes. Enzymes break down food molecules into smaller pieces that the body can absorb.

Three main types: Amylase (breaks down starch), Protease (breaks down protein), Lipase (breaks down lipids).

Carbohydrate digestion starts in the mouth with salivary amylase.

Protein digestion starts in the stomach and continues in the small intestine.

Pancreatic lipase hydrolyzes lipids (fats) into fatty acids and glycerol.

The jejunum, a section of the small intestine, is the primary site of nutrient absorption.

Bile, produced by the liver, emulsifies lipids in the small intestine.

Amino acids and glucose absorbed in the small intestine are directly transported to the liver via the hepatic portal vein.

Iron is predominantly absorbed in the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.