THE DIGESTIVE

SYSTEM
3.3
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
• The digestive system is the organ system that
takes in food, digests it, and excretes the
remaining waste.

• The digestive system is made up of the

digestive tract and accessory organs.

• The parts of the digestive system in humans

are shown in the diagram.

• The Digestive tract is lined with epithelial tissue

DIGESTIVE TRACT
• The goblet cells secrete mucus

• The mucus helps to protect the

tubing from the enzymes as well as
helping the food pass through the
tube easily

• If you eat spoiled food your body

recognizes the presence of toxins
and bacteria. Your digestive tract
then attempts to remove the toxins
quickly (vomit or diarrhea)
THE MOUTH
• The mouth starts the process
by breaking down the food
– Mechanically: the act
of chewing breaks the
food into smaller parts
– Chemically: saliva
contains enzymes that
help to break down the
food
• `Amylase – break
down starches
• Lingual Lipase –
break down fats
THE ESOPHAGUS
• The muscular tube that connects your mouth to your stomach
• The muscle is a smooth muscle tissue which can contract and relax without conscious thought.
These contractions move the food down.
 THE STOMACH
• The stomach holds the food and
churns it to continue the digestion
process using muscle and chemicals.
• The stomach lining contains cells that
produce digestive enzymes and acids
(HCl)
• The smooth muscle contracts to mix
the contents
• The stomach lining is coated in mucus
to help protect it from the acid
The stomach of an adult is about the size of
a fist. It has the ability to expand as much as
40 times its original size in order to hold a
big meal or large fluid intake.
THE INTESTINE

• The lining of the intestine contains mucus, fine blood vessels and smooth muscle (to help move
the contents along)
• There are two parts to the intestine
• Small Intestine:
– About 6 m long and relatively narrow
– Nutrients diffuse through the wall into the blood stream
• Large Intestine: also called the colon
– About 1.5 m long and large in diameter
– Water is absorbed through the wall
ACCESSORY ORGANS

• The liver, pancreas and gall bladder are all organs that assist with digestion

Liver Pancreas Gall Bladder

Produces an
Produces fluid
enzyme called
called bile that
insulin that
helps you break The Gallbladder
regulates the
down fat. Also sores bile
concentration of
helps to
sugar in the
eliminate toxins
blood
COMMON DIGESTIVE ISSUES
• Food Poisoning ( DON’T GO TO PAKISTAN )
– Caused by bacteria in/on food (cooked/prepared improperly)
– Causes nausea, cramps, diarrhea, fever, sweating and dehydration

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

– A chronic or long term problem that causes bloating, gas,
diarrhea and constipation
– Currently doctors are unsure of the cause (immune disorder and
bacteria are suspected) and there is no cure
• Colitis
– The epithelial tissue of the colon becomes inflamed and
stops working properly
– Causes include viruses bacteria, narrowed blood vessels
and failure of the body’s disease-fighting mechanism

• Diabetes
– The pancreas produces too much or too little insulin
– A person with diabetes can experience weakness and
dizziness due to blood sugar levels

• Celiac
– An autoimmune disease that affects the small intestine.
– The body reacts to gluten which causes antibodies to be
produced which can lean to inflammation and damage to
the small intestinal wall