NCM 105 – CHAPTER 2: PROCESS OF DIGESTION

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DIGESTION
 Process of breaking down food into substances like carbohydrates,
proteins, fats and vitamins that aid the body in its different
functions.

Parts of the Human Digestive System

1. MOUTH
 Digestion begins in the mouth where food is broken down
to pieces by chewing
 Food mixes with saliva and broken down so that the body
can absorb and use

2. THROAT
 Also known as pharynx
 Transfers food from the mouth to the esophagus
 Warms, moistens, and filters air before food is moved into the trachea

3. ESOPHAGUS
 Through peristalsis, food goes to the stomach
 Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) closes to prevent food from going back to the
esophagus

4. STOMACH
 Holds, mixes and grinds food
 Secretes acid and powerful enzymes that carry on the process of breaking down food
 Food leaves the stomach in liquid or paste form and moves to the small intestine

5. SMALL INTESTINE
 Parts: duodenum, jejunum, ileum
 Duodenum – continuous the process of breaking down food
 Jejunum/ileum – are responsible for the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream
 The stomach and the small intestine are supported by three organs in digesting food:
pancreas, liver, gallbladder

6. PANCREAS
 Secretes enzymes into the small intestine which breakdown protein, fats and carbo from
food

7. LIVER
 Produces and secretes bile which helps in digestion and the absorption of fats and fat
soluble vit.
 Cleanse and purifies the blood that comes from the small intestine which contains the
nutrients absorbed from food

8. GALLBLADDER
 Bile made in the liver are being stored in the gallbladder through a cystic duct
 During meals it contract and sends bile into the small intestine
 Leftover or waste are passed to the large intestine or colon

9. LARGE INTESTINE
 Parts: cecum, ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid colon
 NCM 105 – CHAPTER 2: PROCESS OF DIGESTION
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 Stool passes by means of contraction or peristaltic movement first in liquid then to solid
form and empties into the rectum

10. RECTUM
 Receives stool from the colon and holds until defecation
 Sensors send a message to the brain which decides if the rectal contents can be released
or not
 The sphincter relaxes and expel the contents

11. ANUS
 Parts: pelvic floor muscle (PFM) and 2 anal sphincters
 PFM – stops stool from coming out when it is not supposed to
 Sphincter – provide control in the elimination of stool