The Digestive System

Kirsten Wong and Madhuri NarayanPeriod 4

FunctionWhat is the main purpose of the Digestive System?

To absorb and break down food eaten

Use for energy and cell nourishment

PartsWhat are the different organs that make up this system?

Process starts here Where food first broken down

Mouth

Located near trachea Receives food from mouth Uses muscular contractions (peristalsis),

delivers food to stomach

Esophagus

Holds food Mix with enzymes and various acids Breaks down food further After broken down sufficiently, released into

small intestine

Stomach

Made of 3 segments: Duodenum, Jejunum, and Ileum

Duodenum responsible for breakdown process

Jejunum and Ileum responsible for absorption of nutrients

22 feet long Break down food using enzymes from

pancreas and bile from liver

Small Intestine

Secretes into duodenum Enzymes break down the protein, fats, and

carbohydrates Makes insulin, goes directly into

bloodstream Insulin is a very important hormone which

helps metabolize sugar

Pancreas

Process nutrients absorbed in the small intestine

Takes raw materials and makes them into chemicals

Detoxifies harmful chemicals Breaks down drugs taken

Liver

Stores and concentrates bile, release into the duodenum

Help digest and absorb fats

Gallbladder

6 feet; connects stomach and rectum Process wastes, making the emptying of

bowels easy Waste left over passed through colon, first

in liquid form, then solid; water is removed Stool held in colon, until emptied into the

rectum; empties once or twice a day Takes 36 hours for stool (debris and

bacteria) travel through colon

Large Intestine (Colon)

8 inch chamber which connects colon and anus

Receives stool from colon, holds until it is released

When enters, a sensor is sent to the brain, which decides if it needs to be emptied or not

Rectum

2 inch canal; contains two sphincter muscles (internal and external)

Lining of upper anus is specialized to detect rectal contents (solid, liquid, or gas)

Surrounded by sphincter muscles which are important in the control of stool

Internal sphincter is always tight, except when stool enters

External sphincter holds the stool in until it is released

Anus

StrengthsWhat are the strengths of the Digestive System?

The long length of the digestive system allows it to effectively extract most nutrients from food.

The stool that is expelled from the body is usually very dry because most of the nutrients and water is absorbed in the body.

Effiency

WeaknessesWhat are the weaknesses of the Digestive System?

The digestive system has many parts, with each part playing an important role in digestion

Each part can be affected by disease If one part fails to perform, the whole

digestive system can be affected

Complexity

The digestive system can be easily affected by the food and drink we take in

For example, if we eat unsafe or uncooked food, we can get food poisoning or other diseases

Outside Factors

DiseasesWhat are some diseases that affect the digestive system?

Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes diseased and inflamed. This usually happens if there is an obstruction that causes bacteria to multiply

The treatment is surgery to remove the diseased appendix

Appendicitis

Celiac disease occurs when the body cannnot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat or rye

The body has an abnormal reaction when the person ingests gluten.

The body destroys the villi, small folds that absorb nutrients, in the small intestine, which can lead to a problem absorbing nutrients

The only treatment is to keep a diet free of gluten

Celiac Disease

Occurs when the esophageal sphincter does not close properly

Causes acid indigestion, which causes burning sensations in the chest or throat

Treatments include a change in lifestyle: losing weight, quitting smoking, balanced diet

Medicines can also be used to prevent acid reflux

Gastroesophagal Reflux Disease (GERD)

How to Keep a Healthy Digestive System

Lifestyle Balanced Diet

Exercise regularly Manage stress levels Quit smoking or don’t

smoke

Eat fiber-rich foods Eat moderately and

slowly Reduce processed

food and fat intake Take medications as

directed Drink plenty of fluids

(not soda or alcohol)

¡GRACIAS POR SU TIEMPO!

¿PREGUNTAS?