Digestive System
The digestive system is composed of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and the anus. Food enters the system through the mouth, down the esophagus and enters the stomach. In the stomach, food will mix for 3 -5 hours depending on how quickly it breaks down. Jello would not last long in the stomach, but large chunks of meat would take longer. Muscles on the outside of the stomach mix and churn the food into chyme. The chyme then goes into the SMALL INTESTINE where nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream, then it passes to the LARGE INTESTINE where water is removed and put into your blood. Stool (poop) is produced and you know the rest.
esophagus = soft, rubbery like tube that goes to the stomach
stomach = a bag that holds the food during digestion. small intestine = 20 foot long tube that pulls nutrients out of the food. large intestine = 5 foot long but larger diameter than the small intestine. This section of the intestines removes excess water. |
Digestive System QUIZLET
Mouth. Food starts to move through your GI (Gastro Intestinal) tract when you eat. When food enters the mouth, the salivary glands are triggered to release saliva. Saliva is the watery and usually somewhat frothy substance produced in the mouths of some animals, including humans. Produced in salivary glands, saliva is 98% water, but it contains many important substances, including electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds and various enzymes. The digestive functions of saliva include moistening food, and helping to create a food bolus, so it can be swallowed easily. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase that breaks some starches down into maltose and dextrin. Thus, digestion of food occurs within the mouth, even before food reaches the stomach.
When you swallow, your tongue pushes the food into your throat. A small flap of tissue, called the epiglottis, folds over your windpipe to prevent choking and the food passes into your esophagus.
Esophagus. Once you begin swallowing, the process becomes automatic. Your brain signals the muscles of the esophagus and peristalsis begins. Peristalsis is the wave like muscle movements that squeeze the food down the tube.
Lower esophageal sphincter. When food reaches the end of your esophagus, a ringlike muscle—called the lower esophageal sphincter —relaxes and lets food pass into your stomach. This sphincter usually stays closed to keep what’s in your stomach from flowing back into your esophagus.
Stomach. After food enters your stomach, the stomach muscles mix the food and liquid with digestive juices. The stomach produces gastric acid which contains hydrochloric acid. Gastric acid, gastric juice, or stomach acid, is a digestive fluid formed in the stomach and is composed of hydrochloric acid (HCl), potassium chloride (KCl), and sodium chloride (NaCl). The stomach slowly empties its contents, called chyme, into your small intestine.
Small intestine. The small intestine is about 20 feet long. That would be about 4 times the length of your body for a 5 foot tall person. The muscles of the small intestine mix food with digestive juices from the pancreas, liver, and intestine, and push the mixture forward for further digestion. The walls of the small intestine absorb water and the digested nutrients into your bloodstream. As peristalsis continues, the waste products of the digestive process move into the large intestine.
Large intestine. Waste products from the digestive process include undigested parts of food, fluid, and older cells from the lining of your GI tract. The large intestine absorbs water and changes the waste from liquid into stool (poop). Peristalsis helps move the stool into your rectum.
Rectum. The lower end of your large intestine, the rectum, stores stool until it pushes stool out of your anus during a bowel movement.
Mouth. Food starts to move through your GI (Gastro Intestinal) tract when you eat. When food enters the mouth, the salivary glands are triggered to release saliva. Saliva is the watery and usually somewhat frothy substance produced in the mouths of some animals, including humans. Produced in salivary glands, saliva is 98% water, but it contains many important substances, including electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds and various enzymes. The digestive functions of saliva include moistening food, and helping to create a food bolus, so it can be swallowed easily. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase that breaks some starches down into maltose and dextrin. Thus, digestion of food occurs within the mouth, even before food reaches the stomach.
When you swallow, your tongue pushes the food into your throat. A small flap of tissue, called the epiglottis, folds over your windpipe to prevent choking and the food passes into your esophagus.
Esophagus. Once you begin swallowing, the process becomes automatic. Your brain signals the muscles of the esophagus and peristalsis begins. Peristalsis is the wave like muscle movements that squeeze the food down the tube.
Lower esophageal sphincter. When food reaches the end of your esophagus, a ringlike muscle—called the lower esophageal sphincter —relaxes and lets food pass into your stomach. This sphincter usually stays closed to keep what’s in your stomach from flowing back into your esophagus.
Stomach. After food enters your stomach, the stomach muscles mix the food and liquid with digestive juices. The stomach produces gastric acid which contains hydrochloric acid. Gastric acid, gastric juice, or stomach acid, is a digestive fluid formed in the stomach and is composed of hydrochloric acid (HCl), potassium chloride (KCl), and sodium chloride (NaCl). The stomach slowly empties its contents, called chyme, into your small intestine.
Small intestine. The small intestine is about 20 feet long. That would be about 4 times the length of your body for a 5 foot tall person. The muscles of the small intestine mix food with digestive juices from the pancreas, liver, and intestine, and push the mixture forward for further digestion. The walls of the small intestine absorb water and the digested nutrients into your bloodstream. As peristalsis continues, the waste products of the digestive process move into the large intestine.
Large intestine. Waste products from the digestive process include undigested parts of food, fluid, and older cells from the lining of your GI tract. The large intestine absorbs water and changes the waste from liquid into stool (poop). Peristalsis helps move the stool into your rectum.
Rectum. The lower end of your large intestine, the rectum, stores stool until it pushes stool out of your anus during a bowel movement.