Digestion

Digestion- process of breaking down food to get nutrients (proteins,

starches, vitamins, fats)

3 main organs involved:

-stomach
-small intestines
-large intestines

Begin in mouth- mechanical (chewing) & chemical digestion (saliva)

Epiglottis (flap) -closes trachea which goes to lungs- food then goes down
esophagus towards stomach in wave-like motions called
“peristalsis” (muscles) movement.

Food enters stomach which has 3 layers of muscles, these muscles mix
your food with gastric juices (digestive enzymes) coated with mucous to
protect it
-pepsinogen (pepsin)- breakdown protein
-water, salts, sugar, alcohol broken down in stomach, other food
types broken down further

Food leaves stomach and enters small intestines (small diameter ~ 3 cm

but about 25 feet)

Duodenum is the beginning of the small intestines. When food enters the
duodenum it activates certain hormones, which then activate the liver and
pancreas, glands which produce various enzymes to breakdown:

-proteins-----> amino acids (a.a.)

Pancreas ==== -starch--------> sugar
-fat-----------> fatty acid and glycerol

(insulin aids in maintaining blood sugar levels)

Bile is made in liver and stored in gall bladder. It helps break down fat, like
soaps break down grease.
In duodenum, enzymes also help breakdown carbohydrates, protein, and
fats.

*All the digestive activity is to breakdown food into its smallest components
so it can pass into your bloodstream through small intestines.

Villi- microscopic folds in the wall of the small intestine. Food goes into the
villi, passing into the blood system through capillaries, then to portal vein
where it goes to the liver. The food is processed in the liver- a.a. broken
down further, sugars can be stored (glycogen).

*Food that is not digested in the small intestines passes into the large
intestines (colon) (2 1/2 times bigger in diameter, but not as long as small
intestines; it’s about 6 feet).
-water is reabsorbed here
- removal of undigested food (waste) produced here

Feces= waste

Rectum= prepares the waste for removal from the body

Anus= external opening to rid waste

Circulatory system carries food particles through your system

-new proteins formed from a.a taken in as food

Vitamins
-your body needs them; get them from a proper diet, minerals too,
can’t get them all from multi-vitamin tablets
- ex. = Ca, P, Fe, Na, Cl, Co, I, Zn, Mg, Cu, Mn.

*Your digestive system makes these vitamins and minerals available to

your body

Takes ~ 24 hours for complete digestion:

4 hrs in stomach
4-6 hrs in small intestines
~ 14 hrs in large intestines