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by the body. In humans, the digestive system consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. The digestive tube made up by these organs is known as the alimentary canal. Several glandssalivary glands, liver, gall bladder, and pancreasalso play a part in digestion. These glands secrete digestive juices containing enzymes that break down the food chemically into smaller molecules that are more easily absorbed by the body. The digestive system also separates and disposes of waste products ingested with the food.
Ingestion
Food taken into the mouth is first broken down into smaller pieces by the teeth. The tongue then rolls these pieces into balls called boluses. Together, the sensations of sight, taste, and smell of the food cause the salivary glands, located in the mouth, to produce saliva. An enzyme in the saliva called amylase begins the breakdown of carbohydrates (starch) into simple sugars. The bolus, which is now a battered, moistened, and partially digested ball of food, is swallowed, moving to the pharynx (throat) at the back of the mouth. In the pharynx, rings of muscles force the food into the esophagus, the first part of the upper digestive tube. The esophagus extends from the bottom part of the throat to the upper part of the stomach. The esophagus does not take part in digestion. Its job is to move the bolus into the stomach. Food is moved through the esophagus (and other parts of the alimentary canal) by a wavelike muscular motion known as peristalsis (pronounced pear-i-STALL-sis). This motion consists of the alternate contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscles lining the tract.
Words to Know
Alimentary canal: Tube formed by the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and intestines through which food passes.
Amylase: Digestive enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates to simple sugars. Bile: Bitter, greenish liquid produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder that dissolves fats. Bolus: Battered, moistened, and partially digested ball of food that passes from the mouth to the stomach. Carbohydrate: A compound consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen found in plants and used as a food by humans and other animals. Chyme: Thick liquid of partially digested food passed from the stomach to the small intestine. Enzyme: Any of numerous complex proteins that are produced by living cells and spark specific biochemical reactions. Esophagitis: Commonly known as heartburn, an inflammation of the esophagus caused by gastric acids flowing back into the esophagus. Gastric juice: Digestive juice produced by the stomach wall that contains hydrochloric acid and the enzyme pepsin. Pepsin: Digestive enzyme that breaks down protein. Peristalsis: Wavelike motion of the digestive system that moves food through the system. Proteins: Large molecules that are essential to the structure and functioning of all living cells. Ulcer: Inflamed sore or lesion on the skin or a mucous membrane of the body. Villi: Fingerlike projections found in the small intestine that increase the absorption area of the intestine.
At the junction of the esophagus and stomach there is a powerful musclethe esophageal sphincterthat acts as a valve to keep food and stomach acids from flowing back into the esophagus and mouth.
pancreatic juice into the duodenum through the pancreatic duct. There are three enzymes in pancreatic juice that break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The gall bladder, located next to the liver, stores bile produced by the liver. While bile does not contain enzymes, it contains bile salts that help to dissolve fats. The gall bladder empties bile into the duodenum when chyme enters that portion of the intestine. The jejunum is about 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) long. The digested carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and most of the vitamins, minerals, and iron are absorbed in this section. The inner lining of the small intestine is composed of up to five million tiny, fingerlike projections called villi. The villi increase the rate of absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream by greatly increasing the surface area of the small intestine. The ileum, the last section of the small intestine, is the longest, measuring 11 feet (3.4 meters). Certain vitamins and other nutrients are absorbed here.
The human digestive process. (Reproduced by permission of The Gale Group .) It is believed that about 80 percent of stomach ulcers may be caused by the bacterial infection. With this discovery, ulcer patients today are being treated with antibiotics and antacids rather than special diets or expensive medicines.
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