A Performance Task in Science

Parts and Functions of the Digestive

System.

Submitted to: Mrs. Acuna

Submitted by: Emir Abdulcalim|8-VBA

The Different Parts and Functions of the

 Digestive System.

What is the Digestive System?

 The digestive system is the group of organs that break

down food in order to absorb its nutrients. The
nutrients in food are used by the body as fuel to keep
all the body systems working. The leftover parts of food
which cannot be broken down, digested, or absorbed
are excreted as bowel movements (stool).

What are the different parts of the Digestive System?

First.

Mouth:
Digestion starts at the very beginning, with food being
chewed in the mouth. Food is broken down into smaller
pieces and the saliva in the mouth begins digesting it. An
enzyme in saliva called amylase breaks certain starches
down into the smaller sugars, maltose, and dextrin.

Next is the
Esophagus:

The esophagus is a tube that's inside the throat, behind

the windpipe. After food is chewed and swallowed, it travels
down through the esophagus and to the stomach. The
muscles in the esophagus contract to move food along,
which is called peristalsis.

And then the

Stomach:

After the food is deposited in the stomach, the digestive

process continues. The food is mixed with the acids and
enzymes that are secreted from the stomach wall. After the
food is thoroughly broken down, it is moved along into the
small intestine.

Next up is the

Small intestine:
The small intestine is a long tube where most of the
vitamins and nutrients are absorbed from food into the
bloodstream. More enzymes are added into the small
intestine as the food moves through to help facilitate the
process. The small intestine is composed of three parts, the
duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum.

A. Duodenum

The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine. It is

located between the stomach and the middle part of the
small intestine, or jejunum. After foods mix with stomach
acid, they move into the duodenum, where they mix with
bile from the gallbladder and digestive juices from the
pancreas.

B. Jejenum

The jejunum, along with the other areas of the small

intestine, is responsible for absorbing nutrients from
digested food into the bloodstream. The jejunum is able to
absorb these nutrients because it is lined with finger-like
projections that are called villi.

B-2. Villi
Villi (singular is villus) are small, finger-like structures in
the small intestine. They help to absorb digested food. Each
villus has microvilli which increase the surface area of the
intestinal walls. A larger surface area allows nutrients to be
taken in more quickly.

C. Ileum

Ileum. The last part of the small intestine. It connects to

the cecum (first part of the large intestine). The ileum helps
to further digest food coming from the stomach and other
parts of the small intestine.

Large intestine:

After moving through the small intestine, the food is now

partially digested and mostly in a liquid form as it passes
through a sphincter called the ileocecal valve and enters
the large intestine. The large intestine is where much of the
water is absorbed from the waste material. By the time the
stool reaches the end of the large intestine, it is in a more
solid form. The sections of the large intestine are called the
cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending
colon, and sigmoid colon.

Rectum:
At the end of the large intestine is the rectum, a reservoir
that holds stool until it can be passed out of the body.
When the rectum becomes full of stool, it gives off a signal
to the brain that it's time to go to the bathroom.

And lastly the

Anus:

The anus has two sphincters that serve to hold stool inside
the body until it is time to pass it. When a person
consciously relaxes their external sphincter, the stool can
then leave the body.

The Different Parts of the Digestive System.