The Digestive System

Digestion is the breakdown of large food particles into small food particles so that they can
be absorbed by our body, into our blood. Our body absorbs food to get energy, which we
need to stay alive and function properly.

Everything we do from thinking to moving, requires energy.

There are two types of digestion:

1. Mechanical Digestion: This refers to the physical breakdown of food e.g. chewing.

2. Chemical Digestion: This refers to the chemical breakdown of food by chemicals

(enzymes). Chemical digestion also starts in the mouth using Saliva.

The Digestive system is made up of organs that help us in digesting food. The organs that
food passes through (also called the Alimentary canal) include the Mouth, Food pipe
(Esophagus), Stomach, Small intestine, Large intestine, Rectum and Anus. Some other
organs also take part in digestion which will be discussed later in this topic.

Liver, Pancreas and Gallbladder

We will now look at how different organs help in the process of digestion.

1. Mouth

The mouth is made up of two main parts

1. Teeth
2. Tongue
 Teeth

Teeth are an important part of our mouth. They help us bite and chew food so that it
breaks down into smaller pieces, which are easier to digest and absorb. They also give
shape to our face and help us speak clearly.

⮚ A baby is born with no teeth.

⮚ When the baby is 6 months old, his/her teeth begin to appear.

⮚ By the time the baby is three years old, he/she has a set of twenty teeth.

⮚ These teeth are temporary and are called milk teeth.

⮚ Between the age of 6 and 12 years, the milk teeth fall out one by one and new

ones grow in their place.

⮚ These new teeth are called permanent teeth. They are 32 in number.

 Types of Teeth
Incisors are the flat teeth in front of the mouth. They are used for biting and cutting the
food. There are 4 incisors in the upper jaw and 4 in the lower jaw. (Total 8)

Canines are the 4 sharply pointed teeth on either side of the Incisors in the upper and lower
jaw. They are used for tearing food apart.

Molars and Premolars: The teeth present at the back of the mouth are broad and have
grooves in them. They are used for grinding and chewing the food.
There are 8 premolars in all, 4 in the upper jaw and 4 in the lower jaw. They are next to the
Canines.
The Molars come after the premolars, there are 12 molars in all, six in the upper jaw and six
in the lower jaw.

 Care of Teeth

We should take care of our teeth as they are very important for us. We use them for chewing
food and they give structure to our face. If we don’t take care of them, they can get cavities
and fall off.
How to take care

1. Brush your teeth or use mouthwash twice a day, daily.

2. Wash and rinse your mouth after every meal
3. Avoid eating sugars, junk food and soft drinks.
4. Eats fruits and vegetables as they give exercise to our gum.
5. Visit the dentist for regular checkups.
6. Have milk, as it has calcium, which help make our teeth strong.

__________
  Saliva
Saliva contains the enzyme Amylase, which breaks down complex sugars (Carbohydrates)
such as starch into simple sugars such as maltose. The simple sugars can easily be
absorbed by our body.
Saliva also contains the enzyme Lipase, which starts breaking down Fat.
Saliva is 98% water.
Saliva helps create food bolus (small round food balls) and lubricates the food, so that food
can travel through the food pipe easily.

2. Food pipe (Esophagus)

This is an organ that food passes through. It connects the mouth to the stomach. During
swallowing, a flap called the Epiglottis tilts backwards to prevent food from going down the
breathing pipe (trachea) and lungs. Another flap called the Uvula closes the nasal cavity
(path going to the nose) so the food does not enter our nose.
It is a muscular tube designed to push the food downwards by relaxing and contracting itself.
This is called Peristalsis.
https://youtu.be/VwiGXtNnh1E
3.

● In addition to holding food, it serves as the mixer and grinder of food. Your stomach
makes acid and powerful enzymes that break the food down and change it to a liquid
or paste.

● This stretchy muscular bag is about the size of a tennis ball when it’s empty, but
expands to the size of a football to store a massive meal.

● The enzyme pepsin in our stomach digests protein.

● Our stomach also contains acid (Hydrochloric acid). This kills all the germs in the
food and also provides the most suitable environment for the enzyme pepsin to work.
 4. Small Intestine

From the stomach, the food is passed into the small intestine. The small intestine is a long
(20-22 feet on average) and coiled structure. The diameter is around 2.5 – 3 cm. The small
intestine produces its own digestive juices. The Pancreas and the Liver also pour their
digestive juices into the small intestine. The main function of the small intestine is Digestion
and Absorption.
Before the food arrives in the small intestine, from the mouth via the esophagus through the
stomach, it is only 10% digested.
The rest of the 90% occurs here, in the small intestine.
All of the digestive juices (small intestine + pancreas + liver) mix with the food and
completely digest it in the small intestine.
Food is pushed through the small intestine by the constant contraction and relaxation of the
muscles. This movement is called Peristalsis (similar to the esophagus).

Structure:
The small intestine is divided into three portions: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

1. Duodenum: The first part of the small intestine that starts at the lower end of the
stomach and extends to the jejunum. It is the shortest part of the small intestine (1
feet). It is where most chemical digestion using enzymes takes place. Alongside
digestion, absorption of digested food starts here as well. The inner surface of the
duodenum contains Villi. Each Villi contains thousands of microvilli. These are
finger-like structures, which increase the surface area, which leads to greater
 absorption. The digested food and nutrients pass through the walls of the Villi into
our bloodstream from where they are carried to different parts of the body.

2. Jejunum: The central of the three portions (8 feet) of the small intestine that lies
between the Duodenum and the Ileum. It has an inner surface which is designed to
absorb digested food and nutrients. It is also covered in finger-like structures called
Villi and Microvilli. Most of the absorption happens here.

3. Ileum: The last, and usually the longest (12 feet), division of the small intestine; the
part between the Jejunum and Large intestine. The function of the ileum is mainly to
absorb any products of digestion that were not absorbed by the Jejunum. The wall
itself is made up of folds, each of which has many tiny finger-like projections known
as Villi on its surface for absorption.
Enzymes:
The enzymes produced in the small intestine are
1. Lactase: Digests Carbohydrates
2. Maltase: Digests Carbohydrates
3. Sucrase: Digests Carbohydrates
4. Peptidase: Digests Protein

The enzymes that are produced in the Pancreas (Role of Pancreas in digestion) and are
poured into the small intestine are

1. Lipase: Digests Fat (Also in saliva)

2. Amylase: Digests Carbohydrates a.k.a Complex sugars (Also in saliva)
3. Trypsin: Digests Protein

Liver produces bile, bile is stored in the Gallbladder (Role of Gallblader in digestion), which
is eventually poured into the small intestine and plays an important role in digesting fat.
(Role of Liver in digestion)
 5. Large Intestine:

The large intestine is 5-6 feet long. Diameter around 6-7 cm.
All the food that is left undigested (waste a.k.a Feces), passes into the large intestine. The
walls of the large intestine absorb water from it and then pass it into the bloodstream. The
undigested semi solid waste passes through the large intestine and eventually exits the body
through the rectum and anus.
Note: The small intestine is much longer than the large intestine, then why is the small
intestine called the “small” intestine?
The small intestine even though is longer, it has a smaller diameter, it is a thinner tube,
hence the name small intestine.
https://youtu.be/cEh2Qip0-E4 (Digestion and Absorption)

Appendix has no function in our body or even if it does we don't know what it is.
List of chemicals used in Digestion (Summary):

Name Produced in Acts in Role in Digestion

Amylase (Enzyme) Salivary Glands Mouth Carbohydrates (Sugars)

Lipase (Enzyme) Salivary Glands Mouth Fats

Pepsin (Enzyme) Stomach Stomach Proteins

Hydrochloric acid Stomach Stomach Kills germs

Lactase (Enzyme) Small Intestine Small Intestine Carbohydrates (Sugars)

Maltase (Enzyme) Small Intestine Small Intestine Carbohydrates (Sugars)

Sucrase (Enzyme) Small Intestine Small Intestine Carbohydrates (Sugars)

Peptidase (Enzyme) Small Intestine Small Intestine Proteins

Lipase (Enzyme) Pancreas Small Intestine Fats

Amylase (Enzyme) Pancreas Small Intestine Carbohydrates (Sugars)

Trypsin (Enzyme) Pancreas Small Intestine Proteins

Bile Liver Small Intestine Helps in digestion of fat

http://www.e-
missions.net/cybersurgeons/?/dig_teacher/#:~:text=Mechanical%20digestion%20involves%20physic
ally%20breaking,when%20food%20mixes%20with%20saliva.
https://youtu.be/ZBZWgrfZFbU The Digestive system
Netflix “magic on the bus” season 2 episode 1”