Digestive System Overview

Digestive System Explained

• The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food and liquids into nutrients and fuel.
• The digestive process begins in the mouth with chewing (mechanical digestion) and the action of enzymes (chemical digestion).
• Bolus is the term for chewed food in the mouth.
• Enzyme is a chemical substance that speeds up chemical digestion.
• The esophagus is a tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach through muscle contractions called peristalsis.
• The stomach, a J-shaped muscular bag, churns, digests, and stores food.
• Chyme is the soupy mixture of broken-down food and gastric juices formed in the stomach.
• The small intestine is the primary site for nutrient digestion and absorption.
• Villi are small finger-like projections in the small intestine that absorb digested nutrients.
• The large intestine absorbs water, minerals, and remaining nutrients.
• The rectum, the final section of the large intestine, stores feces before elimination.
• The anus is the body opening where feces are eliminated.

Key Organs in the Digestive System

• Salivary glands produce saliva, which contains digestive substances and moistens the mouth.
  • The parotid glands are the largest salivary glands, located in the cheeks.
  • The submaxillary glands are located inside the lower jaw and produce most nocturnal saliva.
  • The sublingual glands are the smallest salivary glands, located below the tongue.
• Ptyalin, an enzyme found in saliva, converts starch into sugar.
• The pancreas secretes pancreatic juice into the small intestine.
• The liver, the largest gland in the body, secretes bile, which aids in fat digestion.
• The gallbladder stores bile.

Common Digestive Diseases/Disorders

• Diarrhea is frequent watery stool.
• Intestinal worms/parasites can cause stomach pain and deplete intestinal nutrients.
• Indigestion (dyspepsia) is another term for upset stomach.
• Constipation is difficult bowel movements due to hard stool.
• Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix.
• Ulcers are sores on the lining of the stomach, small intestine, or esophagus.
• Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that can form in the gallbladder.

Explore the intricate workings of the digestive system, from mechanical actions like chewing to complex chemical processes involving enzymes. This quiz covers key terms such as bolus, chyme, and the roles of various organs including the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Understand how our bodies convert food into essential nutrients.