SCIENCE REVEIWER
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
In Human digestive system, there are many parts that work together.
The food that you eat has biomacromolecules, which are nothing but
the carbohydrates (such as sugars), proteins, lipids (such as fats),
and nucleic acids. These have to be converted to their simpler forms so
that your body can absorb it. These biomacromolecules are the building
blocks that you require to maintain your body, which is also made of
these large biological molecules, along with water!
This process of converting complex food substances (molecules) into
simpler forms to facilitate absorption is called Digestion. In humans,
this system consists of many parts and organs, including the alimentary
canal, digestive glands, and a few accessory organs such as the teeth,
salivary glands, tongue, pancreas, liver, gallbladder etc.
Nevertheless, the starting point where digestion actually starts in the
mouth! From the mouth, it passes through the alimentary canal, which
is also called the gastrointestinal tract. This tract consists of the
pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.
The mouth can be considered as the anterior opening of the alimentary
canal, while the anus is the posterior opening.
Digestive System Process:
From the Mouth to the Large Intestine and Anus. The Human digestive
system process can be divided into stages, namely:
Ingestion
Motility
Secretion
Digestion
Absorption
Excretion
The whole process starts in the oral cavity, where the saliva from the
salivary glands mixes with the food and starts to begin the breakdown
of food. From the mouth, the food passes to the hollow tube-like organ
the esophagus. From the esophagus, food then travels to the stomach,
where it breaks down further with the help of the acids and powerful
enzymes secreted by the stomach.
This semi-digested food then travels down to the small intestine, where
secretions from the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas further act on the
food particles. The small intestine is divided into three parts called the
duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Most of the digestion takes place here
in the small intestine, where absorption also occurs. Once most of the
absorption of water and digested nutrients is completed in the small
intestine, the remaining waste products move to the large intestine. The
large intestine divides into appendix, caecum, colon, and rectum. The
faecal matter from the large intestine comes out through the anus.
Digestive System Parts:
Mouth
The anterior opening of the alimentary canal is the mouth. It leads to a
buccal cavity or oral cavity, where teeth, tongue and salivary glands are
present. Here, ingestion, mastication, and swallowing of food occur. In
humans, there are a total of 32 permanent teeth. There are four different
types of teeth, namely, incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. These
help in the chewing of food.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Salivary Glands
They are exocrine glands that produce saliva in the oral cavity. They
secrete an enzyme called amylase, which helps in the breakdown of
starch into maltose. There are three types of salivary glands, namely:
Parotid gland
Submandibular gland
Sublingual gland
Stomach
The esophagus leads to a sac-like organ called the stomach. It is a
muscular, hollow organ, having a capacity of 1 litre. The stomach holds
food and also is a mixer and grinder. It secretes strong acids and
powerful enzymes that help in the process of breaking down of food.
Food is generally in a liquid or pastes consistency when it leaves the
stomach.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Small Intestine
The small intestine is a long tube, which loosely coils in the abdomen
area. Here, enzymes from the pancreas and liver further break down the
food. Three segments make up the small intestines, which are the
duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The contractions of the small intestine
help in the movement of food, along with its breakdown, after mixing
with the digestive secretions. The jejunum and ileum areas of the small
intestine are responsible for the absorption of food into the blood,
though their villi.
Pancreas, Liver and Gall Bladder
These organs also play a significant role in the human digestive system.
The pancreas secretes enzymes which help in the
breakdown protein, fat, and carbohydrate. The liver secretes bile and
cleanses and purifies the blood coming from the small intestine. The
gallbladder stores the bile that the liver produces. It releases bile into the
small intestine to aid in the digestion process.
Large Intestine
The large intestine is a long muscular tube that has different parts,
which are caecum, colon, and rectum. The waste that is left over after
digestion of food, reaches the rectum through the peristaltic movements
of the colon.
Digestive System Controls
Hormones and nerves control the human digestive system. The walls of
the alimentary canal have many sensors which regulate the digestive
functions. Even hormones are involved in the digestion process. The
main digestive hormone, gastrin is secreted in response to the presence
of food. Gastrin again stimulates the gastric acid secretion. All these
regulate the digestion process.
Solved Questions For You
Q: What is digestion?
Ans. Digestion is the process of converting complex food substances
(molecules) into simpler forms to facilitate absorption.
Q: What are the various organs and parts associated with the Human
Digestive System?
Ans. The Digestive System in humans starts with the mouth or oral
cavity, leading to the alimentary canal. The alimentary canal consists of
the following – pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large
intestine, and anus. The small intestine divides into three parts namely,
the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, while the large intestine divides into
an appendix, caecum, colon, and rectum. The liver, gallbladder,
pancreas, teeth, salivary glands, tongue, etc. also have a role to play in
the digestive system.
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
All cells in the body need to have oxygen and nutrients, and they need their wastes
removed. These are the main roles of the circulatory system. The heart, blood and
blood vessels work together to service the cells of the body. Using the network of
arteries, veins and capillaries, blood carries carbon dioxide to the lungs (for exhalation)
and picks up oxygen. From the small intestine, the blood gathers food nutrients and
delivers them to every cell.
Blood
Blood consists of:
Red blood cells – to carry oxygen
White blood cells – that make up part of the immune system
Platelets – needed for clotting
Plasma – blood cells, nutrients and wastes float in this liquid.
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The heart
The heart pumps blood around the body. It sits inside the chest, in front of the lungs and
slightly to the left side. The heart is actually a double pump made up of four chambers,
with the flow of blood going in one direction due to the presence of the heart valves. The
contractions of the chambers make the sound of heartbeats.
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The right side of the heart
The right upper chamber (atrium) takes in deoxygenated blood that is loaded with
carbon dioxide. The blood is squeezed down into the right lower chamber (ventricle)
and taken by an artery to the lungs where the carbon dioxide is replaced with oxygen.
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The left side of the heart
The oxygenated blood travels back to the heart, this time entering the left upper
chamber (atrium). It is pumped into the left lower chamber (ventricle) and then into the
aorta (an artery). The blood starts its journey around the body once more.
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Blood vessels
Blood vessels have a range of different sizes and structures, depending on their role in
the body.
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Arteries
Oxygenated blood is pumped from the heart along arteries, which are muscular.
Arteries divide like tree branches until they are slender. The largest artery is the aorta,
which connects to the heart and picks up oxygenated blood from the left ventricle. The
only artery that picks up deoxygenated blood is the pulmonary artery, which runs
between the heart and lungs.
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Capillaries
The arteries eventually divide down into the smallest blood vessel, the capillary.
Capillaries are so small that blood cells can only move through them one at a time.
Oxygen and food nutrients pass from these capillaries to the cells. Capillaries are also
connected to veins, so wastes from the cells can be transferred to the blood.
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Veins
Veins have one-way valves instead of muscles, to stop blood from running back the
wrong way. Generally, veins carry deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart,
where it can be sent to the lungs. The exception is the network of pulmonary veins,
which take oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
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Blood pressure
Blood pressure refers to the amount of pressure inside the circulatory system as the
blood is pumped around.
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Common problems
Some common problems of the circulatory system include:
Aneurysm – a weak spot in the wall of an artery
Atherosclerosis – a narrowing of the arteries caused by plaque deposits
Heart disease – lack of blood supply to the heart because of narrowed arteries
High blood pressure – can be caused by obesity (among other things)
Varicose veins – problems with the valves that stop blood from running
backwards.
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Where to get help
Your doctor
In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
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Things to remember
The circulatory system delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells and takes away
wastes.
The heart pumps oxygenated and deoxygenated blood on different sides.
The types of blood vessels include arteries, capillaries and veins.
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RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
The respiratory system, which includes air passages, pulmonary vessels, the
lungs, and breathing muscles, aids the body in the exchange of gases
between the air and blood, and between the blood and the body’s billions of
cells. Most of the organs of the respiratory system help to distribute air, but
only the tiny, grape-like alveoli and the alveolar ducts are responsible for
actual gas exchange.
In addition to air distribution and gas exchange, the respiratory system filters,
warms, and humidifies the air you breathe. Organs in the respiratory system
also play a role in speech and the sense of smell.
The respiratory system also helps the body maintain homeostasis, or balance
among the many elements of the body’s internal environment.
The respiratory system is divided into two main components:
Upper respiratory tract: Composed of the nose, the pharynx, and the larynx,
the organs of the upper respiratory tract are located outside the chest cavity.
Nasal cavity: Inside the nose, the sticky mucous membrane lining the
nasal cavity traps dust particles, and tiny hairs called cilia help move
them to the nose to be sneezed or blown out.
Sinuses: These air-filled spaces along side the nose help make the
skull lighter.
Pharynx: Both food and air pass through the pharynx before reaching
their appropriate destinations. The pharynx also plays a role in speech.
Larynx: The larynx is essential to human speech.
Lower respiratory tract: Composed of the trachea, the lungs, and all
segments of the bronchial tree (including the alveoli), the organs of the lower
respiratory tract are located inside the chest cavity.
Trachea: Located just below the larynx, the trachea is the main airway
to the lungs.
Lungs: Together the lungs form one of the body’s largest organs.
They’re responsible for providing oxygen to capillaries and exhaling
carbon dioxide.
Bronchi: The bronchi branch from the trachea into each lung and
create the network of intricate passages that supply the lungs with air.
Diaphragm: The diaphragm is the main respiratory muscle that
contracts and relaxes to allow air into the lungs.
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