Digestive System

What happens during

digestion?

Food is taken in and broken down into

smaller molecules that get absorbed by
body
Waste is eliminated

Digestion

Process of breaking down food

Mechanical happens in mouth

Food is ground/broken up into smaller pieces

Chemical happens as enzymes break

biomolecules into monomers
Carbohydrates monosaccharides (sugars)
Proteins amino acids
Lipids fatty acids

Your Digestive Tract is 26

feet long!

Includes:
Mouth
Pharynx
Esophagus
Stomach
Small Intestine
Large Intestine
Rectum

Liver and pancreas help, but are not part of

digestive tract

Digestion Begins in the

Mouth

Teeth shred and chew food

Food mixes with saliva from salivary glands

Moistens food
Contains Amylase

Food leaves mouth through pharynx (back of throat)

Esophagus

Connects mouth to stomach

No digestion happens here
Surrounded by smooth muscles which contract to
push food down = peristalsis

Stomach

Food enters through sphincter (muscular valve) which

prevents food from going back up esophagus
Smooth muscles mix and further break down food
(peristalsis)
Gastric juices (HCl (hydrochloric acid) and pepsin) break up
proteins

Small Intestine

~ 20 feet long
Peristalsis continues to move food along
Nutrients are absorbed into bloodstream through
Villi

Villi
Villi increase surface area for absorption
Microscopic
Covered by layer one cell thick

Large Intestine
A.K.A. Colon
Diameter 3X that of small intestine
Not coiled
No digestion occurs
Water absorbed out through walls

Role of Pancreas and Liver

Pancreas secretes
Lipases enzymes
which break up fats
Liver produces Bile
first breaks up fats
into tiny droplets so
can be attacked by
lipases

Gall Bladder stores bile

until used by small
intestine