The Digestive

System

Topic Outline
Anatomy

of the digestive system

Accessory organs
Physiology

of digestion

Digestive processes
Control mechanisms

anatomy of
the digestive
system

digestive system
Gastrointestinal

(GI) tract

Ingestion, digestion, absorption and

defecation

Accessory

organs

Assistance in digestive breakdown

The Gastrointestinal Tract

The Gastrointestinal Tract

Mouth
Esophagus
Stomach
Small

intestine
Large intestine

mouth
Aka,

oral cavity
Anterior opening: lips
Lateral walls: cheeks
Roof: hard and soft palate
Floor: tongue

esophagus
About

25 cm long
Passageway for food
Runs from the pharynx through
the diaphragm to the stomach

stomach

Is a muscle that can contract to digest

food.

It produces enzyme and Hydrochloric acid

(HCl) to chemically digest food.

The pH of your stomach can be as low as 2

Digested food in the stomach is called

Chyme

small intestine
Extends

from the stomach to

the large intestines

Major
2-4

digestive organ

m in length

small intestine
Structures that increase the surface
area for absorption

Microvilli

Tiny projections off each villi

Villi

Fingerlike projections into the small

intestines

large intestine
1.5

m in length

Extends

from the small intestines

to the anus

Absorption

of water and
elimination of undigested food

accessory
digestive
organs

accessory organs
Salivary

glands

Teeth
Pancreas
Liver
gallbladder

salivary glands
Saliva: mixture of mucus and

water and enzymes

teeth
First

set: deciduous (milk) teeth

20 teeth
Secons

set: permanent teeth

32 teeth

pancreas
Produces

enzymes that breaks

down all categories of digestible
food
It also produces Insulin, which
controls blood sugar levels and is
tied to Diabetes

liver
Largest

gland

Digestive

function:

production of bile
Bile: Digestion of Fats
It

is stored in the Gall Bladder

physiology of
digestion

digestive process
1.

Ingestion: voluntary process

(eating)

2.

Mechanical digestion: physical

process of digestion

3.

Chemical digestion: large

molecules are broken down into
their building blocks
- catalyzed by enzymes

digestive process
5. Absorption: bringing
nutrients into the bloodstream
- small intestine: major
absorptive site
6. Defecation: elimination of
indigestible food (feces)

stomach
2-3

L of gastric juice produced

everyday

HCl: activates pepsinogen to

pepsin (protein digesting enzyme)

Ulcer: breach in the mucosa

caused by increased acid

production

Gastric Ulcer

Questions?