Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region 1
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF PANGASINAN II
STA. CRUZ INTEGRATED SCHOOL
STA. MARIA DISTRICT

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Grade 8

NAME: _____________________________ Date: ________

Grade/ Section: _____________ Score: _______
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Processes, Parts and Functions
The digestive system is a complex system that breaks down food into nutrients
that can be absorbed and used by the body. The process of digestion involves
several different organs and processes:
A. Ingestion: The process of taking in food through the mouth.
B. Mechanical digestion: The physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces
through chewing and muscular contractions in the stomach and small
intestine.
C. Chemical digestion: The chemical breakdown of food into smaller
molecules through the action of enzymes and stomach acid.
D. Absorption: The process of moving nutrients from the digestive tract into
the bloodstream.
E. Elimination: The removal of waste products from the body through the
rectum and anus.
Overall, the digestive process involves the mouth, esophagus, stomach,
small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. Each organ plays a specific role
in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works

Gastrointestinal Tract
1. Mouth: The mouth is where digestion begins. The teeth break down the food into smaller pieces, while the tongue
mixes it with saliva. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which begins the process of breaking down
carbohydrates. The process of chewing and mixing food with saliva is known as mastication.
2. Pharynx: The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the esophagus. It helps move food down into
the esophagus and prevent it from entering the trachea.
3. Esophagus: The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. As food travels down
the esophagus, it is pushed along by rhythmic contractions known as peristalsis.
4. Stomach: The stomach is a muscular sac that mixes food with stomach acid and enzymes to break it down into a
thick liquid called chyme. The stomach produces hydrochloric acid, which helps to kill most of the bacteria in the
food. The enzyme pepsin, which is activated by the acid, breaks down proteins into smaller peptides.
5. Small intestine: The small intestine is a long, narrow tube where most of the nutrients from food are absorbed into
the bloodstream. The walls of the small intestine are lined with tiny finger-like projections called villi, which
increase the surface area for absorption. The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine,
including amylase (which continues to break down carbohydrates), lipase (which breaks down fats), and
proteases (which break down proteins). The liver produces bile, which is stored in the gallbladder and released
into the small intestine to help digest fats.
6. Large intestine: The large intestine is a wider tube that absorbs water and electrolytes from the remaining liquid,
creating feces. The feces are then eliminated from the body through the anus.
7. Rectum: The rectum is the last part of the large intestine. It stores feces until it is ready to be eliminated from the
body through the anus.
8. Anus: The anus is the opening at the end of the digestive tract where feces are eliminated from the body.
Overall, the gastrointestinal tract is a complex system that involves the coordinated movement of muscles, the secretion
of digestive juices and enzymes, and the absorption of nutrients to break down and utilize food for energy and bodily
functions.

Accessory Organs
1. Liver: The liver is the largest gland in the body and produces bile, which helps to break down fats in the small
intestine. The liver also plays a role in the metabolism of nutrients and the detoxification of harmful substances.
2. Gallbladder: The gallbladder is a small organ that stores and releases bile into the small intestine when needed to
aid in the digestion of fats.

Address: Sta. Cruz, Sta. Maria, Pangasinan

Cellphone No.: 09054880708
Teacher: Leopoldo T. Domingo Jr.
 3. Pancreas: The pancreas is a gland that produces and secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine to break
down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The pancreas also produces insulin and other hormones that regulate
blood sugar levels.
TRUE DIGESTION
The small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption in the digestive system. It is a long, narrow tube that extends
from the stomach to the large intestine and is approximately 20 feet long in adults. The small intestine is divided into three
sections: the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum.
1. Duodenum: The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine, and it receives partially digested food from the
stomach, as well as digestive enzymes and bile from the pancreas and liver, respectively. In the duodenum, the
enzymes and bile work together to break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into their smaller components, which
can be absorbed by the small intestine. The duodenum also plays a role in regulating the release of digestive juices
from the pancreas and gallbladder.
2. Jejunum: The jejunum is the second section of the small intestine, and it is primarily
responsible for absorption. The walls of the jejunum are lined with villi and microvilli,
which increase the surface area available for nutrient absorption. Nutrients, such as
glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids, are absorbed through the walls of the
jejunum and into the bloodstream, where they are transported to the liver for
processing and distribution to the rest of the body.
3. Ileum: The ileum is the final section of the small intestine, and it is responsible for
completing nutrient absorption and reabsorbing any remaining water and
electrolytes. The ileum also plays a role in the immune system, as it contains
Peyer's patches, which are collections of lymphatic tissue that help to protect
against harmful bacteria and other pathogens.

In summary, the duodenum is responsible for breaking down food into smaller components, the jejunum is
responsible for nutrient absorption, and the ileum is responsible for completing nutrient absorption, reabsorbing water and
electrolytes, and playing a role in the immune system. Together, the three regions of the small intestine play a crucial role
in digestion and nutrient absorption.

Enzymes and other chemicals that work in the Small Intestine

The small intestine is a crucial part of the digestive system where the majority of nutrient absorption takes place.
There are several enzymes and other chemicals that aid in digestion in the small intestine. Here are some of them:
a) Pancreatic enzymes: The pancreas produces and secretes several digestive enzymes into the small intestine.
These enzymes include amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates, lipase, which breaks down fats, and
proteases, which break down proteins.
b) Bile: Bile is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder before being released into the small intestine. Bile
aids in the digestion of fats by emulsifying them into smaller droplets, which makes them easier to digest.
c) Mucus: Mucus is produced by goblet cells in the lining of the small intestine and serves to protect the walls of the
small intestine from digestive enzymes and stomach acid.
d) Brush border enzymes: These enzymes are located on the surface of the microvilli in the small intestine and aid in
the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Examples of brush border enzymes include lactase, which
breaks down lactose, maltase breakdowns maltose and peptidases, which break down proteins.
e) Secretin and cholecystokinin: These are hormones that are released by cells in the small intestine in response to
the presence of food. Secretin stimulates the pancreas to release bicarbonate, which neutralizes stomach acid,
while cholecystokinin stimulates the gallbladder to release bile and the pancreas to release digestive enzymes.
Read for Elaboration
The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine, and it receives digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the
liver. Bile helps to emulsify fats, making them easier to digest. The pancreas produces several enzymes, including amylase, lipase, and
proteases, which are released into the duodenum to break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, respectively.
As the chyme from the stomach enters the duodenum, it is mixed with the pancreatic enzymes and bile. The small intestine
also produces its own enzymes, including sucrase, lactase, and maltase, which break down specific carbohydrates. The carbohydrates
are broken down into simple sugars, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose, which can be absorbed by the small intestine and
transported into the bloodstream.
Proteins are broken down into smaller peptides and amino acids by the proteases. The amino acids can then be absorbed by
the small intestine and transported into the bloodstream.Fats are broken down into smaller
fatty acids and glycerol by the lipase. The fatty acids and glycerol combine with bile to form
micelles, which can be absorbed by the small intestine and transported into the bloodstream.
The walls of the small intestine are lined with millions of tiny finger-like projections called villi,
which increase the surface area for absorption. The villi are covered with even smaller
projections called microvilli, which further increase the surface area. The nutrients that have
been broken down and absorbed by the small intestine are transported into the bloodstream
through the villi. The absorbed nutrients are then transported to the liver, where they are
processed and distributed to the rest of the body as needed. The remaining waste products,
including fiber, water, and electrolytes, are passed on to the large intestine for further
processing and elimination from the body.

Address: Sta. Cruz, Sta. Maria, Pangasinan

Cellphone No.: 09054880708
Teacher: Leopoldo T. Domingo Jr.