Digestive system.

The digestive system serves two major functions:

The breaking down of food and fluid into simple chemicals that can be absorbed into the bloodstream
and transported throughout the body
The elimination of waste products through excretion of faeces via the anal canal.

The digestive system consists of the digestive tract/gastro-intestinal (GI) tract (also called the
alimentary canal) as well as accessory organs.
The accessory organs include the:
The digestive tract includes the:
Mouth Teeth
Pharynx Tongue
Esophagus Salivary glands
Stomach Liver
Large intestine Pancreas
Small intestine Gallbladder
Rectum Anus

Together, the alimentary canal and the accessory organs carry out five basic processes:

1. Ingestion. Foods and liquids are taken into the mouth and eaten.

2. Mixing. The smooth muscle in the walls of the GI tract mixes the food and sends it on its way through
the tract.

3. Digestion. Food is broken down by both mechanical and chemical processes.

Mechanical digestion this is the breaking down of solid food into smaller pieces by the chewing
action of the teeth, known as mastication, and the churning action of the stomach assisted by
peristalsis.
Chemical digestion this involves the breakdown of large molecules of carbohydrates, proteins
and fats into smaller ones by the action of digestive enzymes.

4. Absorption. The epithelial cells lining the GI tract absorb the digested food molecules and pass them to
the blood or lymph.
*Assimilation - Utilization of digested food nutrients by the body tissues.

5. Defecation. Any substance not digested or absorbed, for whatever reason, is passed along to the end of
the GI tract, the anus, and leaves the body.
Structure Function
Mouth Mixing masticated food with saliva
Esophagus Conducts food by peristalsis (slow rhythmic squeezing)
Passageway for food only (respiratory system branches off after the
pharynx)
Stomach Temporary storage tank for food
commencement of mechanical digestion (breaks down large
pieces/liquidifying)
Chemical breakdown of protein begins
Secretes gastric juice
Small intestine Chemical digestion begins in the small intestine
o Enzymes are produced by
Intestinal cells
Pancreas
Nutrient absorption

Large intestine Absorption of water.
Formation of faeces.

Teeth Mastication (chewing) of food.

Tongue Initiation of swallowing.

Allows for the sense of taste (taste buds)

Salivary glands Secretes saliva, a clear fluid consisting mostly of water, but also containing
mucus, an enzyme that kills bacteria, antibacterial compounds, electrolytes,
and two digestive enzymes.
Liver & Gallbladder Bile, formed by the liver, enters via the bile duct
Gallbladder stores bile.
The role of bile in neutralizing stomach/gastric acid and emulsifying lipids.
Bile salts aid in the digestion and absorption of fat in the small intestine.
Pancreas Pancreatic ducts carry enzymes to the small intestine (exocrine function)
secretes insulin and glucagon (endocrine function)
Enzymes

the role of digestive enzymes - include the digestion of starch to glucose by amylase and maltase, the
digestion of proteins to amino acids by proteases (pepsin, trypsin) and the digestion of lipids to fatty
acids and glycerol by lipases.

Information to understand how enzymes help with digestion

Organ Enzyme Substance digested Into

Salivary glands Amylase Starch glucose

Lipase Fat Fatty acids+ gycerol

Stomach Pepsin Protein Amino acids

Pancreas Proteases (trypsin) Protein Amino acids

Lipase Fats Fatty acids+ gycerol

Amylase Starch glucose

Intestine Peptidase peptides Amino acids

sucrase sucrose Glucose +fructose
Lactase Lactose Glucose + galactose
maltase maltose glucose
Teeth

Factors that affect teeth growth

A balanced diet with calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A, C, D and fluoride.

Dental hygiene

Brushing twice a day, avoiding sweets, using a fluoride toothpaste and flossing.
Exercises

Match the characteristics with the parts of digestive system.

Characteristics Part
1. Common passage for air breathed (a) Small intestine
and the food swallowed.
2. Elastic bag (b) Pancreas

3. Has three limbs-ascending, (c) Duodenum

transverse and descending
4. Largest part of the food canal (d) Pharynx

5. Receives bile and pancreatic juice (e) Stomach

6. Largest gland in body (f) Colon

7. Gland located in the bend of (g) Liver

duodenum

1. How is grinding of food in the mouth helpful in digestion?

.....................................................................................................................................................

2. Name the source gland for following enzymes.

(i) amylase .....................................................................................................

(ii) pepsin ........................................................................................................

(iii) lipase .........................................................................................................

3. In which part of the alimentary canal does maximum absorption of water occur?

............................................................................................................................

4. List two ways in which the intestine increases the surface area for absorption?

(i) ..................................................................................................................

(ii) ..................................................................................................................
Villi

Peristalsis aided by dietary fibre