Download The Digestive System



The Digestive System is a complex and extremely detailed
structure. It has many parts and is arranged in a compacted
form inside the body.
It consists of 12 organs:
 Salivary Glands
 Pharynx
 Esophagus
 Stomach
 Liver
 Gallbladder
 Pancreas
 Duodenum
 Small Intestine
 Large Intestine
 Rectum
 Anal Canal
The main function of the digestive system is to break down food into
smaller molecules that may be used for energy.




Mouth - breaks down food as
teeth grind food into smaller
pieces
Salivary Glands – produce saliva
(a watery liquid with amylase
that mixes with food and breaks
into smaller molecules)
Pharynx- located at the back of
the mouth and triggers food to
go down esophagus, NOT
trachea which leads to lungs
Esophagus – long tube that
pushes food down in wavelike
patterns to the stomach





Stomach - sack that further breaks
down food and breaks protein
bonds with gastric juice
Liver – creates bile to help break
down fats, extra sugars from
bloodstream, and removes wastes
Gallbladder – stores bile form liver
until needed for small intestine
Pancreas – produces enzymes
needed to break down food in
small intestine
Duodenum – beginning of small
intestine that takes secretions form
liver, gallbladder, and pancreas to
break down food further into simpler
glycerol, amino acids, and
monosaccharides
Small Intestine - absorption of
nutrients take place through
villi that allow nutrients to
enter bloodstream
 Large Intestine -minerals and
water are absorbed from
leftover wastes(contains lots
bacteria)
 Rectum – chamber that holds
stool until brain gives message
to release
 Anal Canal – transmits stool
from rectum to exiting the
body



Gastritis -a condition in which
the lining of the stomach
becomes irritated or inflamed
causing damage to the walls
of the stomach.
Causes:
 stress
 excessive use of alcohol or
medications like asprin
 bacteria, Helicobacter
Pylori
 anemia,
 infections,
 bile reflux (bile released
from bile tract into
stomach)
Treatments:
Moderate Form: avoiding
hot or spicy food and
taking medications to
reduce stomach acid.
Infection: taking
antibiotics that are
prescribed by a doctor
and overall maintain a
healthy diet. Fish oil caps
may also be used to
prevent or help it.
 Cures: Gastritis can be
cured over time if the
proper medication is
taken and if a healthy,
well balanced diet is
applied.

Digestion begins in the mouth as saliva breaks down food
2. The salivary glands create saliva and amylase to break food.
3. The pharynx tells food to enter esophagus and not lungs.
4. Esophagus pushes food in wavelike rhythms down to stomach.
5. The stomach breaks protein bonds with gastric juice.
6. The liver produces bile stored in the gallbladder to break down
fats in the duodenum.
7. The pancreas creates enzymes used in the duodenum to
break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
8. Nutrients pass through villi in the small intestine into the blood.
9. The large intestine absorbs water after nutrient absorption.
10. The rectum holds wastes before they are released through the
anal canal.
1.

Websites
 "Digestive System." National Geographic. Web. 30 Apr. 2012.
<http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-
human-body/human-body/digestive-system-article/>.
 "Gastritis." Home Remedies, Diet, Treatment, Symptoms, Relief.
Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <http://www.home-remedies-foryou.com/remedy/Gastritis.html>.
 Bailey, Regina. "Salivary Glands And Saliva." About.com Biology.
About.com, 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2012.
<http://biology.about.com/od/humananatomybiology/ss/salivaryglands-and-saliva.htm>.

Interview
 "Digestive System." Personal interview. 29 Apr. 2012.

Books
 Johnson, George B., and Peter H. Raven. "Digestion." Holt Biology.
Orlando, Florid: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2007. 907-11. Print.