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Digestion and Absorption

Biochemically, you are what you eat is true!

Food and fluid taken into the body is broken

down into smaller components so it can be
used by the body.

Digestion and
Absorption

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Organ Systems of the Body

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Overview of the Digestive System

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Digestion: process of breaking food into components

small enough to be absorbed by the body
Absorption: process of taking substances into the interior
of the body
Gastrointestinal tract: hollow tube consisting of the
mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine,
large intestine and anus
Transit time: amount of time it takes food to pass the
length of the GI tract
Feces: body waste, including unabsorbed food residue,
bacteria and dead cells

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Overview of the Digestive System

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Digestive Secretions

Structure of
the Gut Wall

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Digestive Enzymes

Digestion inside the GI tract is assisted by

digestive secretions.
Mucus: viscous material produced by goblet
cells; mucus moistens, lubricates and
protects the GI tract
Enzymes: protein molecules that speed up
chemical reactions; enzymes are not
changed during reactions

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Digestive Hormones

Mouth

Cephalic phase

Sense of smell and sight

The mouth is the entry point for food into the

digestive tract.

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pharynx and Epiglottis

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Saliva contains salivary amylase, which helps to break

down carbohydrates and lysozymes, which help to
inhibit bacterial growth in the mouth.
Chewing mechanically breaks food down, increasing the
surface area in contact with digestive enzymes.

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pharynx and Epiglottis

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Esophagus

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Stomach

Stomach

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Small Intestine

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Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Segmentation

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Gallbladder, Liver and Pancreas

Brain

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Digestion Nutrient Breakdown

Gallbladder stores bile which is produced by

the liver.
Pancreas secretes digestive enzymes and
bicarbonate ions into the small intestine
during digestion.

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Nutrient Absorption

Large Intestine

The large intestine can absorb water and

some vitamins and minerals.
Intestinal microflora are produced here.
The large intestine contains the colon and the
rectum.
Water, nutrients and fecal material may
spend up to 24 hours in the large intestine.

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Probiotics

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Prebiotics

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Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

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GI Tract s Role in Immune Function

Common Digestive Problems

The GI tract plays an important role in

protecting the body from infection.
The GI tract limits the absorption of toxins
and disease-causing organisms.
Some cells of the immune system are
present in the GI tract:

Phagocytes
Lymphocytes
Antibodies

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Common Digestive Problems

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Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Antacids: Getting the Drug Facts

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Alternate Feeding Methods

If an individual cannot take adequate food or

fluid by mouth:

Transport of Nutrients Around the

Body: The Cardiovascular System

Enteral or tube feeding

TPN: total parenteral nutrition

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Transport of Nutrients Around the

Body: The Hepatic Portal Circulation

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Metabolism of Nutrients

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Metabolic pathways are a series of reactions

needed to transform food into a final product
that can be used by the body.
Catabolic pathways release energy trapped
in chemical bonds.
Energy from catabolic reactions is converted
into ATP.
ATP is the energy currency of the cell.

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

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Metabolizing
Nutrients:
Cellular
Respiration

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Elimination
of Metabolic
Wastes:
Body Organ
System

Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.