Download Digestive System

• Breaks down food
• Absorption and reabsorption of
water and other nutrients
• Eliminates waste
• GI tract: “tube” from
mouth to anus
• Esophagus
• Stomach
• Small Intestine
• Large Intestine
• Rectum
• Anus
• Accessory digestive
organs
• Teeth
• Tongue
• Salivary glands
• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Pancreas
• Esophagus: passageway for food into the stomach
• Stomach: saclike structure; chemical and mechanical digestion
• Small Intestine: completes digestion; absorption of nutrients into
body*
• Large Intestine: absorption of water and minerals; eliminate
indigestible material
• Rectum: part of large intestine; last part of GI tract
• Anus: terminates GI tract; passage of stool
• Teeth: mechanical breakdown of food
• Tongue: food manipulation, taste, swallowing
• Salivary Glands: production of enzymes to begin breakdown of
food
• Liver: production of bile; removal of glucose (sugar) from blood;
vitamin storage; destruction/transformation of toxic products;
maintenance of blood glucose levels; destruction of erythrocytes
and release of bilirubin; production of blood proteins that aid
in clotting of blood
• Gallbladder: storage of bile
• Pancreas: provides digestive juices; functions outside of
digestive system as well
• Ulcers: open lesion of mucosa in GI tract; most common in
stomach or duodenum; treated with antibiotics and antacids
• Ulcerative Colitis: inflammation of colon with formation of ulcers
in lining of intestine; characterized by frequent, watery stools
• Hernia: protrusion of organ through wall of cavity in which it is
contained; most common in GI tract and may develop in the
diaphragm or through the opening where the esophagus passes
through the diaphragm; in the groin, at the umbilicus
• Bowel Obstruction: many causes including the bowel twisting in on
itself, “telescoping” (intussusception) of intestine
• Hemorrhoids: caused by enlargement of veins in the mucous
membrane of anal canal; can be internal or external; result of
pressure on the veins from either straining to pass stool, pushing
during childbirth or a tumor large enough to produce pressure
• Liver Disorders: hepatitis: viral, alcoholic, idiopathic; cirrhossis; often
seen with overuse of alcohol; jaundice is a common sign; generally
not curable
• Diverticulosis/itis: small pockets develop on walls of large intestine
and usually do not cause problems; if they become infected and/or
inflamed, the condition is referred to as diverticulitis; treatment
ranges from antibiotic regimen to partial colectomy to partial
colectomy with placement of colostomy