The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract—also called the digestive tract—and the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus. The hollow organs that make up the GI tract are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine which includes the rectum and anus. Food enters the mouth and passes to the anus through the hollow organs of the GI tract. The liver, pancreas, and gallbladder are the solid organs of the digestive system. The digestive system helps the body digest food.
The diagram shows the main parts of the digestive system including the areas most likely to be affected by CD or UC.
Bacteria in the GI tract, also called gut flora or microbiome, help with digestion. Parts of the nervous and circulatory systems also play roles in the digestive process. Together, a combination of nerves, hormones, bacteria, blood, and the organs of the digestive system completes the complex task of digesting the foods and liquids a person consumes each day.
IMPORTANT ROLE
Digestion is important for breaking down food into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair.
Digestion works by moving food through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Digestion begins in the mouth with chewing and ends in the small intestine.
As food passes through the GI tract, it mixes with digestive juices, causing large molecules of food to break down into smaller molecules. The body then absorbs these smaller molecules through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream, which delivers them to the rest of the body
Waste products of digestion pass through the large intestine and out of the body as a solid matter called stool.
Digestive juices contain enzymes that break food down into different nutrients.
The small intestine absorbs most digested food molecules, as well as water and minerals, and passes them on to other parts of the body for storage or further chemical change. Hormone and nerve regulators control the digestive process.
The digestive system is responsible for the breakdown and absorption of food and nutrients from the diet. It is composed of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. The system plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis by providing the body with the nutrients and energy needed for growth, repair, and normal body functions.
The process of digestion begins in the mouth, where food is mechanically broken down by chewing and mixed with saliva, which contains enzymes that begin the process of breaking down carbohydrates. The food then travels down the esophagus and enters the stomach, where it is further broken down by stomach acid and enzymes.
From the stomach, the food enters the small intestine, where most of the nutrients and water are absorbed into the bloodstream. The small intestine is lined with villi and microvilli, which increase the surface area for absorption. The nutrients are transported to the liver, where they are processed and either stored or distributed to the rest of the body.
The remaining waste products then enter the large intestine, where water is absorbed and the remaining material is formed into feces. The feces are stored in the rectum until they are eliminated through the anus during defecation.
The digestive system is regulated by a complex network of nerves, hormones, and muscles. The nervous system and hormones control the secretion of digestive enzymes and the movement of food through the digestive tract. The muscles in the digestive tract also play a crucial role in mixing and propelling food through the system.
The digestive system is vulnerable to a variety of diseases and conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and colon cancer. To maintain a healthy digestive system, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
In conclusion, the digestive system is essential for maintaining homeostasis and ensuring the proper functioning of the body's tissues and organs. It breaks down food into nutrients and energy that are needed for growth and normal body functions, and eliminates waste products from the body.
.jpg)
0 Comments