Digestive System PDF

# The Digestive System ## Minerals - Calcium (Ca) - Iron (Fe) - Magnesium (Mg) - Phosphorus (P) - Sodium (Na) - Zinc (Zn) ## How do we get those important minerals and vitamins from foods? The digestive system is responsible for taking in food and breaking it down into nutrients that our bodies...

# The Digestive System ## Minerals - Calcium (Ca) - Iron (Fe) - Magnesium (Mg) - Phosphorus (P) - Sodium (Na) - Zinc (Zn) ## How do we get those important minerals and vitamins from foods? The digestive system is responsible for taking in food and breaking it down into nutrients that our bodies can use. ## Digestive system The digestive system is a collection of organs that breaks down food into energy. ### Organ System - **Integumentary System** - **Nervous System** - **Respiratory System** - **Circulatory System** - **Muscular System** - **Skeletal System** - **Endocrine System** - **Digestive System** - **Reproductive System** - **Excretory System** ## Functions of the Digestive System - **Ingestion:** The process of putting food into your mouth. - **Digestion:** Refers to the breakdown of food into small pieces or molecules that can be used by the body. - **Types of Digestion** - **Mechanical Digestion:** The physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces - Grinding, biting, chewing of food are all mechanical digestion. - It also includes the moving down of food to the stomach through peristalsis. - Peristalsis is the rhythmic, involuntary contraction of the muscles of the esophagus. - **Chemical Digestion:** It involves the breakdown of food chemically into simpler nutrients that our bodies can absorb. - Acids and enzymes present in the stomach and intestines facilitate the chemical digestion. - **Absorption:** Nutrients from the food you eat pass through the wall of the digestive system into your blood. - **Elimination:** Some food substances that are not absorbed and digested are eliminated from the body as feces. - Cellulose is one example of a material your body cannot digest. ## Parts of the Digestive System - **Alimentary canal:** Also known as digestive tract. It refers to the tubular passage through which food passes. The alimentary canal includes: - Mouth - Pharynx - Esophagus - Stomach - Small intestine - Large intestine - Rectum - Anus - **Accessory organs:** Are organs that help in the digestion process by secreting enzymes to break down food: - Salivary Glands - Liver - Gallbladder - Pancreas ## The Journey of Food from the Mouth to Anus ### 1. Mouth Digestion begins in the mouth with the help of your teeth, tongue, and salivary glands. - While you are chewing, salivary glands secrete saliva to moisten the food you eat. - Food that has been chewed and mixed with saliva is called bolus, which is a ball of partially digested food ### 2. Esophagus A muscular tube transports the bolus from mouth to stomach. - The bolus keeps moving down the stomach through peristalsis. ### 3. Stomach A J-shaped muscular sac that digests and temporarily stores food. - The stomach contains digestive juices: hydrochloric acid and pepsin. - **Hydrochloric Acid:** A gastric juice that prepares protein in the stomach for digestion and kills bacteria found on food. - **Pepsin:** Breaks down proteins into smaller pieces. - The digested food leaves the stomach as a thick liquid mixture called chyme. ### 4. Small intestine The small intestine is a long, coiled tube where most of the chemical digestion process happens. - It has smooth muscles that also churn the food. - The small intestine receives digestive enzymes from the pancreas, bile from the gallbladder, and digestive juices from the stomach. - When chemical digestion is completed, food nutrients are absorbed through the folds in the lining of the small intestine called villi. ### 5. Large intestine The large intestine is a shorter and wider tube than the small intestine. - It has main part, the colon with rectum that opens to the anus at its end. - Water is reabsorbed. The undigested material forms into a solid mass called feces. ### 6. Rectum The rectum serves as a storage site for feces before it is eliminated from the digestive tract. ### 7. Anus The anus is a muscular opening and the end of the digestive tract. ## Common Ailments of the Digestive System - **Diarrhea:** Characterized by loose and watery stool and frequent bowel movements. - Diarrhea may be caused by bacteria or parasites found in food and water. - **Constipation:** Characterized by compact, dry, and hard stool. - Constipation may be caused by: - Poor diet - Low in fiber - Emotional Stress - Other medical conditions - **Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD):** Occurs when acid from the stomach flows back up the esophagus. - This happens when the muscular valve in the esophagus does not close properly. - **Gallstones:** Are stones or lumps that build up in the gallbladder. - These stones are hardened cholesterol and pigments in the bile. - **Peptic Ulcer:** A painful wound in the stomach or small intestine. - Caused by bacteria that weakens the protective coating in the stomach and small intestines. - **Colorectal Cancer:** Occurs when tumors form in the lining of the large intestine. ## Proper Care for the Digestive System - Proper Nutrition - Proper Hygeine - Health Habits - Regular Exercise This document was extracted from a visual presentation using OCR. Please note, that the details of images were summarized or interpreted based on visual cues. This is not a replacement for professional medical education. If any further information is required, please consult experts in the field.