Reviewer on the Human Digestive System
Page 1: Human Digestive System
The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food into nutrients.
It consists of multiple organs that facilitate food ingestion, digestion,
absorption, and elimination.
Page 2: Main Stages of Food Processing
1. Ingestion - The act of eating or feeding, including mechanical breakdown.
2. Digestion - Breaking food into smaller molecules via enzymatic action.
3. Absorption - Transfer of nutrients into body fluids.
4. Elimination - Expulsion of undigested and unabsorbed materials.
Page 3: Organs Involved in Digestion
The human digestive system consists of various organs, each with a specific
function in digestion.
Page 4: Oral Cavity
Food is chewed into smaller pieces by teeth.
Mixed with saliva, which contains enzymes that begin carbohydrate
digestion.
Saliva is secreted by three pairs of salivary glands.
Page 5: Pharynx
The region at the back of the throat.
Connects to both the esophagus (food passage) and trachea (air passage).
The epiglottis prevents food from entering the windpipe.
Page 6: Esophagus
Connects the pharynx to the stomach.
Moves food via peristalsis (wave-like muscular contractions).
Page 7: The Stomach
Muscular sac that stores and mixes food.
Secretes gastric juice (HCl and proteases) to break down proteins.
Converts food into chyme (semi-liquid mixture).
Page 8: Sphincters
Circular muscles that regulate passage of substances.
Found throughout the digestive system.
Page 9: Accessory Digestive Organs
1. Liver - Produces bile for fat digestion.
2. Gallbladder - Stores and concentrates bile.
3. Pancreas - Secretes digestive enzymes and insulin.
Page 10: Liver
Produces bile stored in the gallbladder.
Bile helps break down fats.
Page 11: Gallbladder
Stores and releases bile into the small intestine.
Page 12: Bile
Emulsifies fats, breaking them into smaller droplets.
Greenish-yellow fluid that aids digestion.
Page 13: Pancreas
Secretes digestive enzymes:
o Trypsin (proteins)
o Amylase (carbohydrates)
o Lipase (fats)
Produces buffers to neutralize stomach acid.
Page 14: Small Intestine
6 meters long, divided into duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
Digestion occurs mainly in the duodenum.
Absorption occurs in the jejunum and ileum.
Villi and microvilli increase surface area for absorption.
Page 15: Large Intestine (Colon)
Shorter but wider than the small intestine.
Absorbs water, minerals, and some vitamins.
Contains bacteria that aid digestion and produce vitamin K.
Page 16: Rectum and Anus
Rectum stores waste before elimination.
The anus expels feces through muscular contractions.
Page 17: Mechanism of Absorption & Digestion
Carbohydrate digestion starts in the mouth, pauses in the stomach, and
resumes in the small intestine.
Protein digestion occurs in the stomach and small intestine.
Fat digestion occurs entirely in the small intestine.
Page 18: Nutrient Absorption
Water-soluble vitamins absorbed via diffusion or active transport.
Fat-soluble vitamins follow the fat absorption pathway.
Hepatic portal vein transports nutrients to the liver.
Page 19: Regulation of Digestion
Controlled by the nervous and endocrine systems.
Local and brain signals regulate enzyme secretion and muscle contractions.
Page 20: Digestive Enzymes and Their Functions
Salivary amylase (mouth) - Carbohydrate digestion.
Pepsin (stomach) - Protein digestion.
Trypsin (pancreas) - Further protein breakdown.
Lipase (pancreas) - Fat digestion.
