The Digestive System: The Digestive System

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Digestion is defined as the process of transforming foods into unites for absorption. The Digestive System is a complex network of organisms that have six major processes: The digestion of food, the secretion of fluids and digestive enzymes, the mixing and movement of food and waste throughout the body, the digestion of food into smaller pieces, the absorption of nutrients, and the excretion of wastes (Inner Body (1).) Mouth- Digestion begins in the mouth. Physical actions, such as chewing, breaks food into small parts so it can be easily digested. Next, salivary glands secrete an enzyme called saliva to mix with food to start the breaking down of carbohydrates (WebMD (2).) From the mouth, food travels to the pharynx, or throat, by swallowing, …show more content…

This pear shaped organ contracts while we eat, then sends bile to the small intestine (WebMD (2).) Pancreas- The pancreas creates a juice that breaks down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. "The pancreas delivers digestive juice to the small intestine through small tubes called ducts" (NIH (5).) The pancreas is not considered part of the GI tract, but it is a necessary organ needed for the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Large Intestine- The large intestine is made of 3 parts; the cecum, the colon, and the rectum. Some refer to the large intestine as the colon, because the colon contains four separate parts; the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon (WebMD (2).) The cecum connects the small and the large intestine, acting as a transition area for food to travel. The ascending colon takes feces from the cecum to the transverse colon, during this process, bacteria digest fecal matter for the release of vitamins. The longest part of the colon, the transverse colon, is where the most absorption within the large intestine takes place. The descending colon transports feces from the transverse colon to the sigmoid colon. The descending colon walls also absorb water, nutrients, and vitamins from the feces, and can store the feces until it is read to be eliminated. The sigmoid colon can also …show more content…

Merely the smell of food can trigger saliva (LiveScience (3).) For example, the smell of fried chicken, with rice and gravy, and corn bread makes my mouth salivate. As stated earlier, the digestive system is a complex network that is necessary for the digestion and absorption of nutrients. When something is incorrect with the GI Tract, there is a variety of symptoms to know so, such as; abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, vomiting, etc. Most of the symptoms can be avoided or reduced by watching what we eat. (LiveScience (3).) It is important to eat a variety of foods to maintain a well-balanced diet, drink water, and to exercise a minimum of thirty minutes a

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