DIGESTIVE

SYSTEM
Members:
ADORZA, NIÑA V.
CRUZ, CHRISTINE JOYCE S.
ELARMO, FELICITY E.
GALLARDO, SYGRED R.
 PARTS AND FUNCTIONS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Mouth
Food begins its journey through the digestive system in the mouth, also known as the oral
cavity. Inside the mouth are many accessory organs that aid in the digestion of food—the
tongue, teeth, and salivary glands.
- Teeth. The teeth are designed for cutting and grinding food into smaller pieces.
- Tongue. The tongue also helps to push food toward the posterior part of the mouth
for swallowing.
- Salivary Glands. The body also uses saliva to lubricate food as it passes through
the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus.

Pharynx

The pharynx, or throat, is a funnel-shaped tube connected to the posterior end of the
mouth. Because the pharynx serves two different functions, it contains a flap of tissue
known as the epiglottis that acts as a switch to route food to the esophagus and air to
the larynx.

Esophagus
The esophagus is a muscular tube connecting the pharynx to the stomach that is
part of the upper gastrointestinal tract. It carries swallowed masses of chewed food
along its length.

Stomach
The stomach is a muscular sac that is located on the left side of the abdominal
cavity. This major organ acts as a storage tank for food so that the body has time
to digest large meals properly. The stomach also contains hydrochloric acid and
digestive enzymes that continue the digestion of food that began in the mouth.

Small Intestine
The small intestine is a long, thin tube about 1 inch in diameter and about 10 feet
long that is part of the lower gastrointestinal tract. These folds are used to
maximize the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. By the time food
leaves the small intestine, around 90% of all nutrients have been extracted from
the food that entered it.

Liver and Gallbladder

The liver is a roughly triangular accessory organ of the digestive system. The liver
weighs about 3 pounds and is the second largest organ in the body. the main
function of the liver in digestion is the production of bile and its secretion into the
small intestine.
 The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located just posterior to the liver.
The gallbladder is used to store and recycle excess bile from the small intestine so
that it can be reused for the digestion of subsequent meals.

Pancreas
The pancreas is a large gland located just inferior and posterior to the stomach. It
is about 6 inches long and shaped like short, lumpy snake with its “head”
connected to the duodenum and its “tail” pointing to the left wall of the abdominal
cavity. The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine to
complete the chemical digestion of foods.

Large Intestine
The large intestine is a long, thick tube about 2.5 inches in diameter and about 5
feet long. The large intestine absorbs water and contains many symbiotic bacteria
that aid in the breaking down of wastes to extract some small amounts of nutrients.
Feces in the large intestine exit the body through the anal canal.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM PHYSIOLOGY

The digestive system is responsible for taking whole foods and turning them into energy
and nutrients to allow the body to function, grow, and repair itself. The six primary
processes of the digestive system include:

1. Ingestion of food
2. Secretion of fluids and digestive enzymes
3. Mixing and movement of food and wastes through the body
4. Digestion of food into smaller pieces
5. Absorption of nutrients
6. Excretion of wastes
1. Ingestion

The first function of the digestive system is ingestion, or the intake of food. The mouth is
responsible for this function, as it is the orifice through which all food enters the body.
The mouth and stomach are also responsible for the storage of food as it is waiting to be
digested. This storage capacity allows the body to eat only a few times each day and to
ingest more food than it can process at one time.2
2. Secretion

In the course of a day, the digestive system secretes around 7 liters of fluids. These fluids
include saliva, mucus, hydrochloric acid, enzymes, and bile. Saliva moistens dry food
and contains salivary amylase, a digestive enzyme that begins the digestion of
carbohydrates. Mucus serves as a protective barrier and lubricant inside of the GI tract.
Hydrochloric acid helps to digest food chemically and protects the body by killing
bacteria present in our food. Enzymes are like tiny biochemical machines that
disassemble large macromolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids into their
smaller components. Finally, bile is used to emulsify large masses of lipids into tiny
globules for easy digestion.3
3. Mixing and Movement

The digestive system uses 3 main processes to move and mix food:

 Swallowing. Swallowing is the process of using smooth and skeletal muscles in

the mouth, tongue, and pharynx to push food out of the mouth, through the
pharynx, and into the esophagus.
 Peristalsis. Peristalsis is a muscular wave that travels the length of the GI tract,
moving partially digested food a short distance down the tract. It takes many
waves of peristalsis for food to travel from the esophagus, through the stomach
and intestines, and reach the end of the GI tract.
 Segmentation. Segmentation occurs only in the small intestine as short
segments of intestine contract like hands squeezing a toothpaste tube.
Segmentation helps to increase the absorption of nutrients by mixing food and
increasing its contact with the walls of the intestine.4
4. Digestion

Digestion is the process of turning large pieces of food into its component chemicals.
Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of large pieces of food into smaller
pieces. This mode of digestion begins with the chewing of food by the teeth and is
continued through the muscular mixing of food by the stomach and intestines. Bile
produced by the liver is also used to mechanically break fats into smaller globules. While
food is being mechanically digested it is also being chemically digested as larger and
more complex molecules are being broken down into smaller molecules that are easier to
absorb. Chemical digestion begins in the mouth with salivary amylase in saliva splitting
complex carbohydrates into simple carbohydrates. The enzymes and acid in the stomach
continue chemical digestion, but the bulk of chemical digestion takes place in the small
intestine thanks to the action of the pancreas. The pancreas secretes an incredibly strong
digestive cocktail known as pancreatic juice, which is capable of digesting lipids,
carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids. By the time food has left the duodenum, it has
been reduced to its chemical building blocks—fatty acids, amino acids, monosaccharides,
and nucleotides.5
5. Absorption
Once food has been reduced to its building blocks, it is ready for the body to absorb.
Absorption begins in the stomach with simple molecules like water and alcohol being
absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Most absorption takes place in the walls of the
small intestine, which are densely folded to maximize the surface area in contact with
digested food. Small blood and lymphatic vessels in the intestinal wall pick up the
molecules and carry them to the rest of the body. The large intestine is also involved in
the absorption of water and vitamins B and K before feces leave the body.6
6. Excretion

The final function of the digestive system is the excretion of waste in a process known as
defecation. Defecation removes indigestible substances from the body so that they do not
accumulate inside the gut. The timing of defecation is controlled voluntarily by the
conscious part of the brain, but must be accomplished on a regular basis to prevent a
backup of indigestible materials.

DIGESTIVE DISORDERS
Diarrhea - Diarrhea is loose, watery stools three or more times a day. Diarrhea may be
acute, persistent, or chronic. Acute diarrhea is more common than persistent or chronic
diarrhea. Complications of diarrhea are dehydration and mal absorption.
The main symptom of diarrhea is passing loose, watery stools three or more times a day.

Acid reflux (GERD) - Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) happens when your stomach
contents come back up into your esophagus causing heartburn (also called acid reflux).

Barrett's Esophagus - Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which tissue that is similar to

the lining of your intestine replaces the tissue lining your esophagus. People with
Barrett's esophagus may develop a rare cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Experts don't know the exact cause of Barrett's esophagus. However, gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD) increases your chances of developing the condition.

Appendicitis - Appendicitis is inflammation of your appendix. The most common

symptom of appendicitis is pain in your abdomen.
Constipation – Constipation is a condition in which you may have fewer than three bowel
movements a week; stools that are hard, dry, or lumpy; stools that are difficult or painful
to pass; or a feeling that not all stool has passed. You usually can take steps to prevent or
relieve constipation.

Crohn's Disease - Crohn’s disease is a chronic, or long lasting, disease that causes
inflammation and irritation in your digestive tract. The most common symptoms of
Crohn’s disease are diarrhea, cramping and pain in your abdomen, and weight loss.
Doctors aren’t sure what causes Crohn’s disease.

Gallstones - Gallstones are hard, pebble-like pieces of material, usually made of

cholesterol or bilirubin, that develop in your gallbladder. When gallstones block your bile
ducts, they can cause sudden pain, which means you need medical attention right away. If
left untreated, they can cause complications. When gallstones block your bile ducts, bile
builds up in your gallbladder, causing a gallbladder attack. Gallbladder attacks usually
cause pain in the upper right abdomen; gallstones may form if bile contains too much
cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not enough bile salts.

Hemorrhoids - Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins around
your anus or in your lower rectum. External hemorrhoids form under the skin around the
anus. Internal hemorrhoids form in the lining of the anus and lower rectum. Symptoms of
hemorrhoids depend on the type of hemorrhoid. External hemorrhoid symptoms include
anal itching. Internal hemorrhoid symptoms include rectal bleeding. Certain toilet habits,
constipation, a low-fiber diet, and aging may cause hemorrhoids.

Pancreatitis - Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis is short

term and may go away in a few days with treatment. Chronic, or long-lasting, pancreatitis
can get worse over time and cause lasting damage.

Peptic Ulcers (Stomach Ulcers) - A peptic ulcer (stomach ulcer) is a sore on the lining of
your stomach or duodenum. People who take nsaids such as aspirin and ibuprofen long-
term or are infected with the bacteria H. Pylori are most likely to develop peptic ulcers.