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Biology Science

The document outlines the human digestive system, detailing the pathway food takes from the mouth through the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. It describes the functions of each organ, including mechanical and chemical digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste processing. Additionally, it highlights the roles of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas in digestion and nutrient regulation.

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KUMAR GAURAV
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5 views6 pages

Biology Science

The document outlines the human digestive system, detailing the pathway food takes from the mouth through the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. It describes the functions of each organ, including mechanical and chemical digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste processing. Additionally, it highlights the roles of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas in digestion and nutrient regulation.

Uploaded by

KUMAR GAURAV
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mouth → Pharynx → Esophagus → Stomach→ Small intestine → Large

intestine → Rectum

1. Mouth: As you chew and swallow, your tongue pushes food into
your throat. A small piece of tissue called the epiglottis covers your
windpipe. The epiglottis prevents choking.

2. Esophagus: Food travels down a hollow tube called the esophagus.


At the bottom, your esophageal sphincter relaxes to let food pass to
your stomach. (A sphincter is a ring-shaped muscle that tightens
and loosens.)

3. Stomach: Your stomach creates digestive juices and breaks down


food. It holds food until it is ready to empty into your small intestine.

4. Small intestine: Food mixes with the digestive juices from your
intestine, liver and pancreas. Your intestinal walls absorb nutrients
and water from food and send waste products to the large intestine.

5. Large intestine: Your large intestine turns waste products into


stool. It pushes the stool into your rectum.

6. Rectum: The rectum is the lower portion of your large intestine. It


stores stool until you have a bowel movement.

Ingestion

Mouth: Teeth – mechanically break down food.


Tongue – helps in tasting, mixing food with saliva, and forming the bolus.

Salivary glands – secrete saliva containing amylase (enzyme to break


down carbohydrates).

Pharynx (Throat)

 Shared by the digestive and respiratory systems.

 Moves food from the mouth to the esophagus(~25 cm long). Uses


peristalsis (wave-like muscle contractions) to push food toward the
stomach.

 Epiglottis closes the windpipe during swallowing to prevent


choking.

Digestion
Stomach

J-shaped organ that receives food from the esophagus and initiates the
digestion process. The stomach's main function is to break down food
through mechanical and chemical digestion before it moves to the small
intestine.

 Function:

o Mechanical digestion: Churns food.

o Chemical digestion:

 Releases hydrochloric acid (HCl) and pepsin to begin


protein digestion.

 Produces mucus to protect lining from acid.

Small Intestine (Main site of digestion and absorption)

Parts: Duodenum → Jejunum → Ileum

 Duodenum:

o Receives bile (from liver) and pancreatic enzymes.

o Bile emulsifies fats.

o Pancreatic enzymes break down proteins, carbs, and fats.

 Jejunum & Ileum:

o Absorb nutrients (glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins,


minerals).

o Lined with villi and microvilli to increase surface area for


absorption.

Liver
Shaped like a cone, the liver is a dark reddish-brown organ that weighs
about 3 pounds.

2 distinct sources that supply blood to the liver, including the following:

 Oxygenated blood flows in from the hepatic artery

 Nutrient-rich blood flows in from the hepatic portal vein

The liver holds about one pint (13%) of the body's blood supply at any
given moment.

 Function:

The liver regulates most chemical levels in the blood and excretes a
product called bile. This helps carry away waste products from the liver.
All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the
liver. The liver processes this blood and breaks down, balances, and
creates the nutrients and also metabolizes drugs into forms that are
easier to use for the rest of the body or that are nontoxic.

 Production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in
the small intestine during digestion
 Production of certain proteins for blood plasma
 Production of cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through
the body
 Conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage (glycogen can
later be converted back to glucose for energy) and to balance and make
glucose as needed
 Regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which form the building blocks
of proteins
 Processing of hemoglobin for use of its iron content (the liver stores iron)
 Conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea (urea is an end product of
protein metabolism and is excreted in the urine)
 Clearing the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances
 Regulating blood clotting
 Resisting infections by making immune factors and removing bacteria
from the bloodstream
 Clearance of bilirubin, also from red blood cells. If there is an
accumulation of bilirubin, the skin and eyes turn yellow.

When the liver has broken down harmful substances, its by-products are
excreted into the bile or blood. Bile by-products enter the intestine and
leave the body in the form of feces. Blood by-products are filtered out by
the kidneys and leave the body in the form of urine.

Gallbladder

pear-shaped organ located under your liver.

 Function:

o Stores and concentrates bile (Bile is a mixture of mainly


cholesterol, bilirubin and bile salts).

o Releases bile into duodenum to help digest fats.

Pancreas

 Function:

o Produces digestive enzymes: amylase (carbs), lipase (fats),


proteases (proteins).

o Releases bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid in


duodenum.

Large Intestine (Colon)

 Function:

o Absorbs water and electrolytes.


o Compacts undigested food into feces.

o Hosts beneficial gut bacteria that produce vitamins (e.g.,


vitamin K).

Rectum and Anus

 Rectum: Stores feces.

 Anus: Controls the release of feces through defecation.

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