DIGESTIVE

SYSTEM
A. FUNCTIONS:
1. Ingestion of food
2. Digestion of food
3. Absorption of digested food
4. Elimination of undigested food

B. PARTS:
1. Digestive tube – starting from the mouth and
ending in the anus
2. Digestive Glands – responsible for secretion of
digestive juices containing enzymes for digestion
of food
3. Accessory Parts – like lips, teeth, tongue, which
aid in the physical digestion of food
A. Digestive Tube
1. Mouth
- anterior opening of the tube for the entrance of
food
- Surrounded by lips
2. Oral Cavity
- Cavity immediately posterior to the mouth and
bounded by the
- Cheeks
- Tongue
- Hard and soft palate
- Teeth
- Tonsils
3. Pharynx
- posterior part of the oral cavity for passage of
food and air

4. Esophagus
- collapsible muscular tube extending from the
pharynx through an opening in the diaphragm
(hiatus) to the stomach
- About 25 cm long and 0.13 cm in diameter
- Secretes mucus and facilitate passage of food
5. Stomach
- highly muscular pouch found in the epigastric
and left hypochondriac portions of the
abdominal cavity

- Divided into a fundus (upper portion towards

the left), a body (central portion) and the
pylorus (antrum) or constricted lower portion.

- With a lesser curvature (upper right border)

and greater curvature (lower left border)
- Provided with sphincter:
A. cardiac sphincter - this guards the opening of
the esophagus and stomach

B. pyloric sphincter – this guards the opening of

the pylorus into the duodenum

- Where food is partially digested and stored

prior to passage into the duodenum
6. Small Intestine
- longest part of the digestive tube
approximately 6.1 meters in length a 2.5 cm in
diameter.
- Divided into three portions: the anterior
duodenum about 20 cm. in length, a middle
jejunum about 2.4 m in length, and the
posterior ileum about 3.6 m in length
- Receives secretions from the liver, gallbladder,
and pancreas
- Site of final digestion of food and absorption of
digested food.
• Duodenum
-ducts from the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas enters the
duodenum to provide juices that neutralize acids coming from
the stomach and help digest proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

• Jejunum
-the colour of jejunum is deep red because of its extensive
blood supply; its peristaltic movements are rapid and vigorous

• Ileum
-blood supply is more limited and peristaltic movements are
slower
7. Large Intestines
- most posterior part of the digestive tube
approximately 1.5m long, and 6.3 cm. in
diameter
- Divided into three parts: the caecum/cecum
(first 5- 7.6 cm); colon (ascending, transverse,
descending, and sigmoid) and the rectum (17.7
or 20.3 cm)
- For water and Na+ ion absorption and
temporary storage of fecal matter
• Cecum
- absorbs fluids and salts that remain after completion
of intestinal digestion and absorption and to mix its
contents with lubricating substance which is mucus

• Colon
- lubricate waste products, absorb remaining fluid and
salts, and store waste products until they are ready to
be passed from the body. most absorption occur in the
ascending and transverse regions, where liquid
material received from the small intestine is
dehydrated to form a fecal mass.
• Rectum
- terminal segment of the digestive system in
which feces accumulate just prior to discharge.

8. Anus – terminal opening of the digestive tube

for defecation.
 Digestive Glands
a. Salivary Glands
1. Parotid glands – below the ear
2. Sub mandibular glands – floor of the oral cavity
close to the angel of the jaw
3. Sublingual gland – floor of the cavity under the
tongue
b. Gastric glands
- Microscopic glands found in the gastric mucosa
- Secrete gastric juice provided with enzymes

c. Goblet cells
- Microscopic unicellular glands found in the
intestinal mucosa
- Secrete intestinal juice or succus entericus with
enzymes

d. Liver
- Largest gland divided into lobes
Functions:
1. Carbohydrate metabolism –glycogenesis,
gluconeogenesis, glycolysis

2. Fat metabolism – ketogenesis, synthesis of

glycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol;
storage of fats

3. Protein metabolism – various proteins

synthesis, deamination, urea formation
4. Secrets bile – important for the emulsification
of fats prior to digestion and serve as a medium
for excretion of cholesterol and bile pigments

5. Decontaminates various substances

6. Vitamins metabolism stores Vitamin A, D, K,

and B12 synthesizes Vitamin B3
e. Pancreas
- Large lobulated gland which is both an
endocrine and exocrine gland

- Pancreatic cells connected with pancreatic

ducts

- Secrete pancreatic juice and enzymes

C. DIGESTION
- Physical and chemical conversion of food to
simple absorbable forms.

1. Simple sugar from carbohydrates

2. Amino acids from proteins
3. Fatty acids and glycerol from lipids
4. Nucleotides from nucleic acid