El Sistema Digestivo

Study Notes

Digestive System

Overview

A complex system that breaks down food into nutrients for energy, growth, and repair
Consists of mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine

Mouth

Food enters the digestive system through the mouth
Teeth chew food into smaller pieces (mechanical digestion)
Saliva containing enzymes (amylase and lipase) breaks down carbohydrates and fats into simpler molecules (chemical digestion)

Esophagus

A muscular tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach through peristalsis (muscular contractions)
Food is propelled into the stomach through the lower esophageal sphincter

Stomach

A sac-like organ that stores food and mixes it with digestive enzymes and acids
Gastric glands produce pepsin and hydrochloric acid to break down proteins and denature proteins
The stomach churns and mixes food for about an hour, breaking it down into a liquid mixture (chyme)

Small Intestine

A long, thin tube where most nutrient absorption occurs
Pancreatic juices and bile from the liver and gallbladder are released into the small intestine to aid in digestion
Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine

Large Intestine

Also known as the colon, it absorbs water and electrolytes, and stores and eliminates waste
The large intestine is home to a diverse community of microorganisms (microbiome) that aid in fermentation and immune system function
Waste is eliminated from the body through the anus

Description

Aprende sobre los diferentes componentes del sistema digestivo, desde la boca hasta el intestino grueso, y cómo trabajan juntos para descomponer los alimentos en nutrientes. Descubre cómo cada parte del sistema digestivo contribuye a la digestión y absorción de nutrientes.