Digestive System

Digestion- is the process of breaking down of food into smaller molecules to be absorbed by the body.
Types of Digestion:
1. Mechanical- by physical way of digestion ex. In mouth
2. Chemical- by chemical use like in enzymes.

Parts and Functions:

1) Mouth – begins digestion by reducing size of particles (chewing) and mixing with saliva
Tongue – moves food during chewing, connects to the floor of the mouth via the frenulum, contains papillae (taste buds)
Palate – forms roof of oral cavity (hard and soft), uvula at back of the mouth
Palatine tonsils – back of the mouth/throat, organs that protect against infection
Teeth – primary vs. secondary teeth; 
incisors, cuspids, bicuspids (premolars), molars

2) Salivary Gland Serous

cells produce amylase – splits starch and glycogen into disaccharides
Mucous cells produce mucus – lubrication during swallowing
3) Esophagus
Located in your throat near your trachea (windpipe), the esophagus receives food
from your mouth when you swallow. By means of a series of muscular contractions
called peristalsis, the esophagus delivers food to your stomach.

4) Stomach
The stomach is a hollow organ, or "container," that holds food while it is being
mixed with enzymes that continue the process of breaking down food into a usable form. Cells in the lining
of the stomach secrete a strong acid and powerful enzymes that are responsible for the breakdown process.
When the contents of the stomach are sufficiently processed, they are released into the small intestine.

5) Small intestine
Made up of three segments � the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum � the small intestine is a 22-foot long
muscular tube that breaks down food using enzymes released by the pancreas and bile from the liver.
Peristalsis also is at work in this organ, moving food through and mixing it with digestive secretions from the
pancreas and liver. The duodenum is largely responsible for the continuous breaking-down process, with the
jejunum and ileum mainly responsible for absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.

Contents of the small intestine start out semi-solid, and end in a liquid form after passing through the organ.
Water, bile, enzymes, and mucous contribute to the change in consistency. Once the nutrients have been
absorbed and the leftover-food residue liquid has passed through the small intestine, it then moves on to the
large intestine, or colon.
6) Pancreas
The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum, the first segment of the small intestine. These
enzymes break down protein, fats, and carbohydrates. The pancreas also makes insulin, secreting it directly
into the bloodstream. Insulin is the chief hormone for metabolizing sugar.

7) Liver
The liver has multiple functions, but its main function within the digestive system is to process the nutrients
absorbed from the small intestine. Bile from the liver secreted into the small intestine also plays an important
role in digesting fat. In addition, the liver is the body's chemical "factory." It takes the raw materials absorbed
by the intestine and makes all the various chemicals the body needs to function. The liver also detoxifies
potentially harmful chemicals. It breaks down and secretes many drugs.

8) Gallbladder
The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile, and then releases it into the duodenum to help absorb and
digest fats.

9) Colon (large intestine)

The colon is a 6-foot long muscular tube that connects the small intestine to the rectum. The large intestine
is made up of the cecum, the ascending (right) colon, the transverse (across) colon, the descending (left)
colon, and the sigmoid colon, which connects to the rectum. The appendix is a small tube attached to the
cecum. The large intestine is a highly specialized organ that is responsible for processing waste so that
emptying the bowels is easy and convenient.

Stool, or waste left over from the digestive process, is passed through the colon by means of peristalsis, first
in a liquid state and ultimately in a solid form. As stool passes through the colon, water is removed. Stool is
stored in the sigmoid (S-shaped) colon until a "mass movement" empties it into the rectum once or twice a
day. It normally takes about 36 hours for stool to get through the colon. The stool itself is mostly food debris
and bacteria. These bacteria perform several useful functions, such as synthesizing various vitamins,
processing waste products and food particles, and protecting against harmful bacteria. When the
descending colon becomes full of stool, or feces, it empties its contents into the rectum to begin the process
of elimination.

10) Rectum
The rectum (Latin for "straight") is an 8-inch chamber that connects the colon to the anus. It is the rectum's
job to receive stool from the colon, to let the person know that there is stool to be evacuated, and to hold the
stool until evacuation happens. When anything (gas or stool) comes into the rectum, sensors send a
message to the brain. The brain then decides if the rectal contents can be released or not. If they can, the
sphincters relax and the rectum contracts, disposing its contents. If the contents cannot be disposed, the
sphincter contracts and the rectum accommodates so that the sensation temporarily goes away.

11) Anus
The anus is the last part of the digestive tract. It is a 2-inch long canal consisting of the pelvic floor muscles
and the two anal sphincters (internal and external). The lining of the upper anus is specialized to detect
rectal contents. It lets you know whether the contents are liquid, gas, or solid. The anus is surrounded by
sphincter muscles that are important in allowing control of stool. The pelvic floor muscle creates an angle
between the rectum and the anus that stops stool from coming out when it is not supposed to. The internal
sphincter is always tight, except when stool enters the rectum. It keeps us continent when we are asleep or
otherwise unaware of the presence of stool. When we get an urge to go to the bathroom, we rely on our
external sphincter to hold the stool until reaching a toilet, where it then relaxes to release the contents.