Topic :Digestion

Digestion refers to the breakdown of food into smaller components that

can be absorbed into the bloodstream. This digestion or catabolism is
divided into two types – the mechanical digestion of food that occurs in
the mouth when it is physically broken up into smaller pieces and the
chemical digestion that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract when the
food is broken down into small molecules by digestive enzymes.
 Why is digestion important
Why is digestion important?
Digestion is important for breaking down food into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair. Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of
nutrients before the blood absorbs them and carries them to cells throughout the body. The body breaks down nutrients from food and drink into carbohydrates, protein, fats, and
vitamins.
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are the sugars, starches, and fiber found in many foods. Carbohydrates are called simple or complex, depending on their chemical structure. Simple carbohydrates
include sugars found naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk, and milk products, as well as sugars added during food processing. Complex carbohydrates are starches and
fiber found in whole-grain breads and cereals, starchy vegetables, and legumes.
PROTEIN
Foods such as meat, eggs, and beans consist of large molecules of protein that the body digests into smaller molecules called amino acids. The body absorbs amino acids through the
small intestine into the blood, which then carries them throughout the body.
FATS
Fat molecules are a rich source of energy for the body and help the body absorb vitamins. Oils, such as corn, canola, olive, safflower, soybean, and sunflower, are examples of healthy
fats. Butter, shortening, and snack foods are examples of less healthy fats. During digestion, the body breaks down fat molecules into fatty acids and glycerol.
VITAMINS
Scientists classify vitamins by the fluid in which they dissolve. Water-soluble vitamins include all the B vitamins and vitamin C. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Each
vitamin has a different role in the body’s growth and health. The body stores fat-soluble vitamins in the liver and fatty tissues, whereas the body does not easily store water-soluble
vitamins and flushes out the extra in the urine.
 Digestion :How log does it take
How long does it take to digest food — from the time you eat it to the time you excrete it?
Digestion time varies among individuals and between men and women. After you eat, it
takes about six to eight hours for food to pass through your stomach and small intestine.
Food then enters your large intestine (colon) for further digestion, absorption of water and,
finally, elimination of undigested food. It takes about 36 hours for food to move through the
entire colon. All in all, the whole process — from the time you swallow food to the time it
leaves your body as feces — takes about two to five days, depending on the individual
Digestive system of human being
 Human Digestive system
The Human Digestive System
The digestive system of the human body comprises a group of organs working together to convert food into
energy for the body. Anatomically, the digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal tract, along with
accessory organs such as the liver, pancreas and gallbladder. The hollow organs that make up the
gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) include the mouth, stomach, oesophagus, small intestine and large intestine
that contains the rectum and anus.
Human Digestive System and Nutrition involve the intake of food by an organism and its utilization for
energy. This is a vital process which helps living beings to obtain their energy from various sources. The food
which we eat undergoes much processing before the nutrients present in them are utilized to generate
energy. This processing is known as digestion. Humans and other animals have specialized organs and
systems for this process.
The digestion process involves the alimentary canal along with various accessory organs and organ systems.
In humans, the process is quite simple due to our monogastric nature. This means that we have a one-
chambered stomach, unlike other animals such as cows, which have four chambers.
Some parts of nervous and circulatory systems also play a significant role in the digestion process. A
combination of nerves, bacteria, hormones, blood and other organs of the digestive system completes the
task of digestion.
 Mouth and buccal cavity
What is Buccal Cavity?
The mouth is also called the buccal cavity or the oral cavity. In the human digestive system, the mouth is the upper end, or
the beginning of the alimentary canal, which leads to the pharynx and to the oesophagus. In humans, both the mouth or the
buccal cavity and the nasal cavity are separated by the palate.
The buccal cavity mainly comprises the primary organ of the digestive system including the teeth, tongue and salivary glands.
Also, read Digestive System In Humans
The mouth is an opening through which the food is taken inside the body. It is bounded by lips and its inner parts comprise
the cheeks, tongue, upper jaw and lower jaw.
The upper jaw is fixed, which forms the roof of the mouth cavity and consists of the palate, teeth, and gums surrounding the
teeth. The lower jaw is movable and forms the floor of the mouth cavity, which consists of the tongue along with the teeth
and gums surrounding them. The parts of the mouth play an important role in speech and helps in breathing in certain cases,
when the nose is blocked and during strenuous exercise. It is also the most important part of the human body, which permits
us to enjoy the food we eat and also to communicate with the rest of the world.
 Tongue
Why is the tongue important?
1: Tasting
The tongue is best known for providing a sense of taste. Humans can sense five basic types of tastes:
Sweet
Salty
Bitter
Sour
Umami
bad
Your sense of taste helps your brain decide whether what you are eating actually has nutritional value or not. For example, very bitter or sour tastes can be a sign a food has gone
and should not be eaten. On the other hand, tastes that are salty or sweet signal that those foods have high caloric content.
2: Chewing
saliva
Scientifically known as mastication, chewing is the act of breaking down food with saliva. The tongue plays a pivotal role when chewing food, as it helps ensure food particles and
are mixed properly. When food is properly chewed, the body has better access to its nutrients. Well-chewed food is also easier to swallow and digest.
3: Swallowing
it
Once food is thoroughly chewed and mixed with saliva, it forms a ball called a bolus. The tongue is what pushes the bolus towards the back of the mouth to the esophagus, where
travels down to the stomach for digestion.
 Oesophagus
What is the oesophagus?
The oesophagus (gullet) is part of the digestive system, which is sometimes called the gastro-intestinal tract
(GI tract). The oesophagus is a muscular tube. It connects your mouth to your stomach.
When you swallow food, the walls of the oesophagus squeeze together (contract). This moves the food down
the oesophagus to the stomach.
The upper part of the oesophagus is behind the windpipe (trachea). The windpipe is the tube that connects
your mouth and nose to your lungs, so you can breathe. Below your lungs is a layer of muscle called the
diaphragm. It helps you to breathe. Most of your oesophagus sits above the diaphragm in your chest.
The bottom part of the oesophagus is below the diaphragm. The place where the oesophagus joins the
stomach is called the gastro-oesophageal junction.
The oesophagus has four layers:
The mucosa is the inner layer. It is moist to help food pass smoothly into the stomach.
The submucosa contains glands that produce mucus (secretions). This keeps the oesophagus moist.
The muscularis is the muscle layer. It pushes food down into the stomach.
The adventitia is the outer layer. It attaches the oesophagus to nearby parts of the body.
 Stomach
The stomach is a muscular organ located on the left side of the upper abdomen.
The stomach receives food from the esophagus. As food reaches the end of the
esophagus, it enters the stomach through a muscular valve called the lower
esophageal sphincter.
The stomach secretes acid and enzymes that digest food. Ridges of muscle tissue
called rugae line the stomach. The stomach muscles contract periodically,
churning food to enhance digestion. The pyloric sphincter is a muscular valve
that opens to allow food to pass from the stomach to the small intestine.
 Duodenum
duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, which receives partially digested
food from the stomach and begins the absorption of nutrients. The duodenum is
the shortest segment of the intestine and is about 23 to 28 cm (9 to 11 inches)
long. It is roughly horseshoe-shaped, with the open end up and to the left, and it
lies behind the liver. On anatomic and functional grounds, the duodenum can be
divided into four segments: the superior (duodenal bulb), descending, horizontal,
and ascending duodenum.
 Gall bladder
The gallbladder is located right underneath the liver. This thin-walled, pear-
shaped sack is about 7 to 10 centimeters (2.7 to 3.9 inches) long and up to 5
centimeters (2 inches) across at its widest point.
The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile from the liver. The bile is then
released into the first section of the small intestine (the duodenum), where
it helps your body to break down and absorb fats from food.
 Liver
Liver
The liver has many functions, but its main job within the digestive system is to process the
nutrients absorbed from the small intestine. Bile from the liver secreted into the small
intestine also plays an important role in digesting fat and some vitamins.
The liver is your body's chemical "factory." It takes the raw materials absorbed by the
intestine and makes all the various chemicals your body needs to function.
The liver also detoxifies potentially harmful chemicals. It breaks down and secretes many
drugs that can be toxic to your body.
 Pancreas

During digestion, your pancreas makes pancreatic juices

called enzymes. These enzymes break down sugars, fats,
and starches. Your pancreas also helps your digestive
system by making hormones. These are chemical
messengers that travel through your blood.
 Small intestine

The small intestine has three parts: the duodenum, jejunum

and ileum. It helps to further digest food coming from the
stomach. It absorbs nutrients (vitamins, minerals,
carbohydrates, fats, proteins) and water from food so they
can be used by the body. The small intestine is part of the
digestive system.
 Large intestine
The long, tube-like organ that is connected to the small
intestine at one end and the anus at the other. The large
intestine has four parts: cecum, colon, rectum, and anal
canal. Partly digested food moves through the cecum into the
colon, where water and some nutrients and electrolytes are
removed.
 Appendix

The function of the appendix is unknown. One

theory is that the appendix acts as a storehouse for
good bacteria, “rebooting” the digestive system after
diarrheal illnesses. Other experts believe the
appendix is just a useless remnant from our
evolutionary past.
 Anus
Anus: The last part of the digestive tract, the anus,
consists of pelvic floor muscles and two anal sphincters
(internal and external). Together their jobs are to detect
rectal contents, whether they are liquid, gas or solid, and
then control when stool should and shouldn't be excreted
from your body
 Thank alot
🙏🙏 🙏

By

Devinder Singh(Teacher)