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Welcome To Class!

Let’s Discuss The Digestive System
Digestive System
Ms. Walker
7th Grade Life Science
Plate It! Intro Activity
Digestive System Learning Goals
Understand the structure and function of
the digestive system.
 Identify problems and diseases associated
with the digestive system.
 Identify techniques that keep the digestive
system healthy.

Lets get a quick visual of the system
and how it works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7xKY
Nz9AS0
3 Main Functions
a. Digestion – breakdown of foods
within stomach and intestines for use by
body’s cells
 b. Absorption – passage of digested food
from digestive tract into blood
 c. Elimination – body’s expulsion of
undigested food or body wastes.

The Digestive Process

4 sections
◦
◦
◦
◦
1. Mouth
2. Throat
3. Stomach
4. Intestines
The Digestive Process - Mouth
a. Teeth break food you eat into
smaller pieces
 b. Mastication – the process of
chewing
 c. Saliva is produced by salivary
glands. Saliva contains an enzyme
that breaks down food in the mouth
– Amylase.

The Digestive Process - Mouth
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d. Tongue – shapes and prepares food
for swallowing
 Make sure to brush tongue to avoid bad breath!!!
The Digestive Process – The Throat
a. The uvula – small flap of tissue at
the back of the throat that prevents
food from going to the nasal
passages
 b. The epiglottis – flap of tissue
which covers the throat, preventing
food from entering your airways.

The Digestive Process – The Throat
c. When food is swallowed, it enters the
esophagus – a 10 inch tube that
connects the throat to the stomach
 d. Peristalsis – series of involuntary
muscle contractions that move food
through the digestive system
 e. (similar to squeezing a tube of
toothpaste from the bottom up)

Peristalsis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ34Q
x6hzJk
The Digestive Process - Stomach
a. Stomach - hollow sac-like organ
connected to the esophagus
 b. Functions:
- digests food with gastric juices
- moves food into small intestine
 c. Converts food into chyme - a creamy
mixture of food and gastric juices.

The Digestive Process - Intestines

a. from the stomach, food moves into
small intestines
◦ 20-23 feet long, 1 inch in diameter
◦ This is where most of the nutrients from food
are absorbed into the body!!!

b. inner lining contains villi – tiny
fingerlike projections that help absorb
nutrients
The Digestive Process - Intestines
c. any unabsorbed material goes from the
small intestine into the large intestine
 d. here water is absorbed; helps to
eliminate waste
 e. undigested food passes through the
large intestine; or the colon
 f. exited through the anus

Helpers of the Digestive System
1. It is important to note food DOES NOT
pass through these organs!
2. Pancreas
a. produces enzymes to help break down
food
b. produces insulin to help regulate blood
sugar levels
Helpers of the Digestive System
3. Liver
a. produces bile
b. Bile – a green fluid that helps
breakdown fats
4. Gallbladder
a. small pouch which stores the bile
Crossword puzzle – 10 pts

Identify parts of the digestive system
Functional Problem:
Heartburn
Gas
Nausea
What is it? Causes?
Symptoms?
HEARTBURN
GAS
NAUSEA
GASTRITIS
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
PEPTIC ULCER
HEMORRHOIDS
Digestive System Care

1. Eat foods high in fiber!
◦ Fiber helps food and waste pass through the
digestive tract
◦ Reduces risk of colon cancer
◦ Beans, Prunes, Pears, and Leafy Green
Vegetables are good sources
Digestive System Care

2. Drink plenty of water
◦ 8 glasses a day!
◦ Helps keep things moving regularly
Digestive System Care

3. Eat slowly and don’t hurry through
your meals
◦ Eating too fast can cause gas or indigestion