Digestive System Overview

Digestive System Overview

• The digestive system sorts and utilizes food for optimal body function.
• It performs essential processes to ensure nutrient absorption and waste elimination.

Food Intake and Initial Processing

• Food is consumed in the mouth, where taste and texture are enjoyed.
• Teeth break down food into smaller pieces for easier swallowing.
• Saliva softens food, aiding in digestion and swallowing.

Oesophagus Function

• Once food is chewed and softened, it travels down the oesophagus.
• The oesophagus is a muscular tube about 25 cm long.
• Muscles in the oesophagus contract in a coordinated manner to move food to the stomach, even against gravity.

Interesting Facts

• An adult consumes approximately 500 kg of food annually.
• The body can produce up to 1.5 liters of saliva each day.
• The Pill Cam is a miniature camera that can be swallowed to take internal body photos, capable of capturing up to 55,000 images in 8 hours.
• The Pill Cam has been in use since 2001 for medical diagnostics.