THE HUMAN

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
HUMAN NUTRITION

DIGESTIVE Obtaining RESPIRATORY

SYSTEM nutrients SYSTEM
Distributing
nutrients Eliminating
waste products

CIRCULATORY EXCRETORY
SYSTEM SYSTEM
HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Absorption
Transfer of nutrients
Ingestion Digestion into blood

Intake of food Break down of food: Egestion

o Mechanical
o Chemical Elimination of
substances that can’t
be absorbed
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Digestive tract: Connective &
epithelial tissue; 2 layers of
muscle tissue; cells that produce
Accesory glands: Secrete
enzymes substances (such as
 Mouth hormones and enzymes)
 Pharynx into the digestive system.
 Oesophagus  Salivary glands
 Stomach  Liver
 Small intestine
 Large intestine
 Pancreas
 Anus
MOUTH

Salivary glands:
secrete saliva that
contains enzymes
to digest
chemically.
DIGESTION IN THE MOUTH
Mechanical:
Mastication: Carried out by
teeth and tongue. Food is torn into
smaller pieces for digestion
Chemical:
Insalivation: Carried out by
saliva. Food is moisted to form a
food bolus.
Saliva is mostly wáter and proteins:
 Amylase: Digestion of
carbohydrates.
 Mucin: Gives viscosity
 Lysozyme: Attacks bacteria
PHARYNX &
OESOPHAGUS

Epiglottis
DEGLUTION

Mouth
Tongue pushes the
bolus and closes the
epiglottis
Pharynx
Food moves
downwards thanks to
the muscles contraction Peristalsis
Oesophagus
STOMACH
Cardias

Three layers of
muscle

Gastric glands:
o Gastric acid
o Mucus
Pylorus
GASTRIC DIGESTION
Chemical:
Gastric acid: Contains
hydrochloric acid and pepsin: Mechanical:
 Hydrochloric acid: breaks
Mixing of food:
food and eliminates the
The food is mixed
microorganism that may
with gastric acid and
contain.
forms the chyme.
 Pepsin: enzyme that breaks
bonds between aminoacids.
Protein digestion.
LIVER & GALLBLADER

Liver: produce the

bile and filters all
the substances
incoming the body.

Gallblader: stores
the bile.

Common bile duct

PANCREAS

Pancreatic juice Pancreatic hormones:

Insuline
 INTESTINAL DIGESTION
Chemical:
 Pancreatic juice: Sodium
bicarbonate to neutralise acidic
chyme. Enzymes to digest
carbohydrates, lipids and
proteins.
 Bile: Helps digest fats, acts like a
soap. It is not an enzyme
 Intestinal juice: Secreted by the
Duodenum intestines. Digestion of
carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.

Chyme Chyle
SMALL INTESTINE Pylorus

Secretion from the

liver and the pancreas

Absorption of
nutrients with the
intestinal villi

Ileocecal valve
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
Intestinal villi
 Single-layer
epithelium.
 Capillary network.
 Blind-ended lymph
vessel.

Nutrients go through the

epithelium into the blood
vessels or the lymph vessel
(fats).
LARGE INTESTINE
Absorption of water
and forming of
faeces.

 Appendix
 Ascending colon
 Transverse colon
 Descending colon
 Rectum
 Anus
EGESTION
Chyle not
absorbed

Intestinal flora

Faeces
 REVIEW QUESTIONS
Explain the difference between food and nutrients.
Eating and nutrition are two different processes, which of them is voluntary?
What are the most important structural nutrients? What is the purpose of this type of
nutrient?
What are the two types of glycerides? How are they different at room temperature?
How many aminoacids are there? How many of them do human beings not produce?
Describe the three main biological functions of water.
Do you think other animals, such as mice, will have different essential aminoacids?
What are the predominant vitamins in the following foods: Orange juice, lettuce and
tomato salad, spinach, boiled eggs, sardines, sliced cheese.
 REVIEW QUESTIONS
Which two processes of nutrition are related to the respiratory system?
What is the difference between ingestión, digestion and egestion?
Say whether you agree or disagree with the following statement and explain why. Egestion
and excretion are the same process.
Find out which other organs the pharynx is connected to.
Indicate the digestive juices that act in: mouth, stomach and small intestine.
Why do you think it is important to chew and insalivate food properly?
Look for information on the Internet and compare human teeth with those of a carnivorous
animal and a herbivorous animal. What are the similarities and the differences between them?
What are the benefits of eating fibre? Make a list of foods that are rich in fibre. Which of
them do you usually eat?
ENZYME FUNCTION SITUATION
Amylase

Lysozyme

Pepsin

Peptidase

Lipase
 QUESTIONS ABOUT
DIGESTION
What other substance, which is not an enzyme, helps to digest fats?

What is the difference between bolus, chyme and chyle?

Can we live without gallbladder? Explain your answer

Lysozyme helps to battle against pathogens, which other chemical substance from
the digestive system has a similar function? Where is it released?
Where does the digestion of proteins start?