The Digestive System: Lecture Notes Organisms can easily obtain and utilize nutrients from their food

through the process of Ingestion and Digestion. -Ingestion is the process of taking the food into the digestive system. -Digestion is the process by which food and drink are broken down into their smallest parts so the body can use them to build and nourish cells and to provide energy. NUTRIENTS: Micronutrients these are nutrients needed by organisms throughout their life in small quantities in order to suffice physiological functions Macronutrients these are nutrients such as fats, carbohydrates, and lipids that give energy for the body. THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: Parts and Functions 1. Mouth -This area is where the food enters the body and the process of ingestion is taking place. -Saliva produced by the salivary glands help the food moistened and softened in order to easily pass through the esophagus. -A bolus is a lump formed by the saliva and the tongue that aids grinding and churning. -After the food is grinded by the teeth with the aid of the bolus, it will then go down to the esophagus. 2. Gullet/Esophagus -Before the food passes the esophagus, the epiglottis closes the lung airway so that the food will not enter there and cause choking. The mechanism is that when grinding, the epiglottis is raised up so that air can pass. 4. Duodenum and Small Intestine -The small intestine is where most of the digesting function is taking place. -It secretes enzymes that break the food down into three (3) types of food molecules fats, carbohydrates, and sugars -Absorption absorbing the molecules in the small intestine s wall covered with villi and carries it to the portal vein and the bloodstream. -The Small Intestine has three sections a. Duodenum digests food b. Jejunum absorbs nutrients and water c. Ileum absorbs nutrients and water 5. Gallbladder and Pancreas -Both inject enzymes into the small intestine that is used to break food into molecules. They also neutralize chemicals to maintain homeostasis. But by the time you swallow, it gently closes the trachea and move down. -The gullet is a pipe 25cm long that connects the mouth and the stomach. It uses waves of muscle contractions called peristalsis that pushes the food down. Since it is very powerful, we can even swallow and push the food into the stomach even upside-down. 3. Stomach -It is made up of protein. Mucus secreted by the stomach protects itself from selfdigestion. -It has three main functions store food, disinfect, and chemical digestion. -it secretes hydrochloric acids that helps digestion. It has a ph of 2 that can kill bacteria. -It also secretes pepsin that will break down protein into amino acid.

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The Digestive System: Lecture Notes -The gallbladder is a pouch near the liver. Bile emulsifies lipids (physically breaks apart FATS) Bile is a bitter, greenish-yellow alkaline fluid, stored in the gallbladder between meals and upon eating is discharged into the duodenum where it aids the process of digestion. Bile duct a long tube that carries BILE. The top half of the common bile duct is associated with the liver, while the bottom half of the common bile duct is associated with the pancreas, through which it passes on its way to the intestine. -the Pancreas is an organ which secretes both digestive enzymes (exocrine) and hormones (endocrine) Digestive enzymes Digest proteins (trypsin and chymotrypsin) Digest starch (amylase) Buffers Neutralizes acid from stomach 6. Liver -The body s central processing system. It processes and packages the molecules of food so that it can be used as fuel by the rest of the body. -It stores carbohydrates and sends sugars, proteins, and fats out into the bloodstream. -It also makes bile to help with digestion. _It also stores bile until needed and act like detergent to breakdown fats. 7. Large Intestine -It s primary function is to reabsorb water. -Fiber is an indigestible solid. Vitamins K and B is reabsorbed with the water. Escherichia Coli water absorption bacteria that helps

8. Appendix -It is an accessory organ which is about 2cm long and can be removed without missing anything through appendectomy. 9. Rectum -it stores feces until you have a bowel motion. 10. Anus -It is where solid waste exits the body. Digestive Homeostasis Disorders ULCERS erosion of the surface of the alimentary canal generally associated with some kind of irritant CONSTIPATION a condition in which the large intestine is emptied with difficulty. Too much water is reabsorbed and the solid waste hardens DIARRHEA a gastrointestinal disturbance characterized by decreased water absorption and increased peristaltic activity of the large intestine. This results in increased, multiple, watery feces. This condition may result in severe dehydration, especially in infants. APPENDICITIS an inflammation of the appendix due to infection GALLSTONES an accumulation of hardened cholesterol and/or calcium deposits in the gallbladder ANOREXIA NERVOSA - a psychological condition where an individual thinks

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The Digestive System: Lecture Notes they appear overweight and refuse to eat. HEART BURN ACID from the stomach backs up into the esophagus

IMPORTANT POINTS: y Mouth o Breaks up food o Digests starch o Kill germs o Moisten food Epiglottis o Closes the trachea when swallowing Saliva o Produced by specialized secretory cells found in the alimentary canal Stomach o Kills germs o Breaks up food o Digests proteins o Stores food Pepsin o Breaks down proteins into amino acid Liver o Produces bile o Break up fats Pancreas o Produces enzymes to digest proteins and starch Acid Chyme o A nutrient-rich broth brought about by mixing and enzyme action in the stomach Pyloric Sphincter o Doorway from the stomach to the small intestine

Prepared by John Arvi Armildez For comments and suggestions, email me at: arvi.armildez@gmail.com

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