Digestive_System_
Digestive_System_
DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM
LEARNING POINTS
6
7
8
MOUTH
This is the start of the digestive
system. The teeth mechanically
grind down the food. The saliva,
made in salivary glands, chemically
digests the food using enzymes.
ESOPHAGUS
The esophagus ensures the smooth
movement of food from the mouth
to the stomach, allowing for
efficient digestion and nutrient
absorption. The esophagus does not
secrete digestive enzymes. Its
primary function is to facilitate the
passage of food.
STOMACH
The stomach is a muscular bag
which contains digestive juices
called hydrochloric acid. It mixes
food and drink with the acid.
LIVER
The liver releases a chemical called
bile into the intestines via the gall
bladder. Bile breaks down lipids
(fats and oils) in food.
PANCREAS
The pancreas releases enzymes into
the intestines. Enzymes break down
foods such as lipids, proteins and
carbohydrates.
GALL BLADDER
This is where bile is stored and
concentrated before it is released
into the small intestine. Bile is
produced in the liver to break down
lipids.
SMALL INTESTINE
Foods such as carbohydrates,
proteins and lipids are digested
here. Nutrients from these foods are
absorbed into the blood.
THE INTESTINES ABSORBING FOOD
The intestines have a large surface area as a result of
lots of tiny folds, which absorb nutrients and water.
AND WATER
VILLI FUNCTION
Specialized projecting structures known as villi, are
present in the small intestine. The villi themselves have
even smaller hair like projections on their surfaces
known as microvilli. The villi have a good blood supply
from capillaries, which enable the absorption of
nutrients from the gut wall into the blood.
LARGE INTESTINE
The large intestine contains food
which cannot be broken down
further, usually fibre. Water is
absorbed into the blood.
RECTUM
The rectum contains undigested
food stored as faeces (poo).
ANUS
This is the end of the digestive
system and where faeces leave the
body.
Digestive
Enzymes
What are
enzymes?
Enzymes are proteins which catalyse or
speed up a chemical reaction.
Starch Amylase
is an enzyme that helps to convert starches
into a simpler form, such as glucose or maltose
(two glucose molecules put together)
Amylase breaks the glycosidic bonds that hold
Glucose complex carbohydrates together through
hydrolysis (breaking of a bond by adding a
water molecule)
Example
Amino Acid
Protease
Example
The protease enzyme pepsin is produced in the
gastric glands in the stomach. Pepsin starts the
process of breaking down proteins into amino
acids. Other protease enzymes then complete
this process.
Lipases Lipases are enzymes which break down
lipids into fatty acids and glycerol.
Fatty acid
Glycerol chains
Lipase Example
Lipase enzymes are produced in the
pancreas. They work in the small intestine
(duodenum) to turn lipids into fatty acids
and glycerol.
LET’S
REVIEW
LE CHOICE 1
MULTIP
A Absorption of nutrients
B Breakdown of food
C Production of bile
A Esophagus
B Rectum
C Small intestine
D Large intestine
LE CHOICE 3
MULTIP
A Renin
B Saliva
C Pepsin
D Bile
TRUE OR FALSE 1
True False
TRUE OR FALSE 2
True False
TRUE OR FALSE 3
True False
ANSWERS KEY
3 D. Bile 3 False
THE END
Thank You!
REFERENCE
Cinnamon VanPutte, J. R. (2019).
Seely's Essentials of Anatomy
& Physiology Tenth Edition.
New York City: McGraw hill
Education.