Digestive System

Reported by: Norjanisah B. Baute

 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
• The digestive system is the
collective name used to describe the
alimentary canal, some accessory
organs and a variety of digestive
process that takes place at different
levels in the canal to prepare food
eaten in the diet for absorption.
FUNCTIONS OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:

 INGESTION
 DIGESTION
 ABSORPTION
 ELIMINATION
INGESTION
It involves :
• Placing the food into the mouth.
• Chewing the food into smaller pieces (mastication).
• Moistening of the food with salivary secretion.
• Swallowing the food (deglutition).
DIGESTION
• During digestion, food is broken down
into small particles by the grinding action
of the gastro- intestinal tract (GIT) and
then degraded by the digestive enzyme
into usable nutrients.
ABSORPTION
• During absorption, nutrients, water and
electrolytes are transported from the
GIT to the circulation.
ELIMINATION
• Food substances that have been eaten but
cannot be digested and absorbed are
excreted from the alimentary canal as
feces by the process of defecation.
Anatomy of the Digestive system
The organs of the digestive system are organized in two groups:

– Alimentary tract
• The alimentary tract of the digestive system is composed of the mouth, pharynx,
esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus.

- Accessory digestive organs

• The accessory digestive organs are the salivary glands, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder.
The Alimentary tract
● Mouth (oral cavity)
– Cavity where the food is chewed
– The mouth is where the digestive tract begins.
Enzymes released into the mouth start the process
of digestion
 Structure of the Mouth
• Lips
- two mobile and muscular
structures that form the entrance
to the mouth.
- The lips mark the transition
from skin to moist mucous
membrane.
• Oral Vestibule
- the space between the soft tissue (lips and
cheeks), and the teeth and gums.
- the vestibule is kept moist by secretions
from the parotid salivary glands, which are
located in front of the ears and behind the
angle of the jaw.
• Gums
– are made up of the fibrous and
dense tissue that lines the alveolar
arches and hugs the teeth.
• Teeth
- are the hardest substances in the
human body.
- there are four types of
teeth; (incisors for cutting,
canines for tearing and premolars and
molars
for grinding)
• Palate
- consists of the hard and soft palates.
- the hard palate is the bony roof of the
mouth.
- the soft palate is a fold of membrane that
hangs between the mouth cavity and the back
of the throat.
• Tongue
- The tongue is a muscular organ in the
mouth.
- The tongue is covered with moist,
pink tissue called mucosa. Tiny
bumps called papillae give the tongue
its rough texture.
- Thousands of taste buds cover the
surfaces of the papillae.
• Pharynx
- The pharynx is the part of the throat
behind the mouth and nasal cavity,
and above the esophagus and trachea .
- Pharynx is the part of the digestive
tract that gets the food from your
mouth.
• Esophagus
- The esophagus is a muscular tube
connecting the throat (pharynx) with the
stomach.
- The esophagus is about 8 inches long,
and is lined by moist pink tissue called
mucosa.
• Stomach
– Muscular mixing cavity and
storage container for food
– Secretions of acid and other
substances that breaks down food
– Lining of mucous membrane
• Small intestine
– Absorbs sugars, lipids, peptides
(proteins), water, minerals and vitamins
from food
– 3 parts: duodenum, jejunum and ileum
– Special lining called villi for increasing
the absorption surface
 Duodenum

• The duodenum is the first part of the

small intestine.
• It is located between the stomach and
the middle part of the small intestine,
or jejunum.
• After foods mix with stomach acid,
they move into the duodenum, where
they mix with bile from the gallbladder
and digestive juices from the pancreas.
Jejunum
• The middle part of the small intestine.
• It is between the duodenum (first part of the
small intestine) and the ileum (last part of
the small intestine).
• The jejunum 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.
Ileum
• The ileum is the final section of the small
intestine.
• The function of the ileum is mainly to absorb
vitamin B12, bile salts, and any products of
digestion that were not absorbed by the
jejunum.
• The wall itself is made up of folds, each of
which has many tiny finger-like projections
known as villi on its surface.
● Large intestine

– Large intestine is a 6-foot long muscular tube that

connects the small intestine to the rectum.
– 3 parts: cecum, colon and rectum
– Faeces are formed which get expelled through the
anus.
 • Cecum
- The cecum is a pouch within the
peritoneum that is considered to be the
beginning of the large intestine.
- The internal wall of the cecum is
composed of a thick mucous membrane,
through which water and salts are
absorbed.
• Rectum
- The rectum is a part of the lower
gastrointestinal tract.
- The rectum is a straight, 8-inch chamber that
connects the colon to the anus.
- The rectum follows the shape of the sacrum
and ends in an expanded section called an
ampulla where feces is stored before its
release via the anal canal.
• Anus
- The anus is the opening where the
gastrointestinal tract ends and exits the body.
- The anus starts at the bottom of the rectum,
the last portion of the colon (large intestine).
- The anorectal line separates the anus from
the rectum. Tough tissue called fascia
surrounds the anus and attaches it to nearby
structures.
Accessory Digestive organs

• Salivary glands

– Secrete saliva into the mouth. Saliva

lubricates food and begins the digestion
of carbohydrates.
• Liver
– Secretes bile which is stored in the gall
bladder. Bile helps digest lipids
– Receives, transforms and stores
nutrients absorbed from the small
intestine
• Pancreas
- Secretes substances to break down food
- The pancreas is about 6 inches long and
sits across the back of the abdomen,
behind the stomach.
- The head of the pancreas is on the right
side of the abdomen and is connected to
the duodenum.
• Gallbladder
- The gallbladder is a small pouch that sits
just under the liver.
- The gallbladder stores bile produced by
the liver.
- After meals, the gallbladder is empty and
flat, like a deflated balloon. Before a
meal, the gallbladder may be full of bile
and about the size of a small pear.
 DISEASES OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

• Chronic gastritis - occurs when your stomach

lining becomes inflamed. Bacteria, consuming
too much alcohol, certain medications, chronic
stress, or other immune system problems can lead
to inflammation.
TREATMENT
• Antibiotic medications to kill H. pylori. For H. pylori in your digestive tract, your doctor
may recommend a combination of antibiotics, such as clarithromycin and amoxicillin to
kill the bacterium. Be sure to take the full antibiotic prescription, usually for seven to 14
days.
• Medications that block acid production and promote healing. Proton pump inhibitors
reduce acid by blocking the action of the parts of cells that produce acid.
• Medications to reduce acid production. Acid blockers also called histamine (H-2) blockers
reduce the amount of acid released into your digestive tract, which relieves gastritis pain
and encourages healing.
• Stomach Flu-is an infection of the stomach
and upper part of the small intestine.
Common symptoms are diarrhea,
vomiting, stomach pain, and cramps.
TREATMENT
• Drink lots of fluids. Fluids are critically important since you’re losing vital bodily
fluids through sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Get plenty of rest. When you have the stomach flu, your body needs rest in order to
fight off the infection. Get plenty of sleep and reduce the amount of activity you
normally do during the day.
• Medicate with caution. You can take over-the-counter medication to treat the
symptoms, but do so sparingly. For fever or aches, ibuprofen (Advil) can help, as long
as it doesn’t cause you to have more of an upset stomach.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - refers to
long-lasting inflammation in the digestive
tract. IBD causes irritation and swelling,
resulting in diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of
appetite, fever, and weight loss.
TREATMENT
• Anti-inflammatory drugs. Anti-inflammatory drugs are often the first step in the
treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
• Immune system suppressors. These drugs work in a variety of ways to suppress the
immune response that releases inflammation-inducing chemicals into the body.
• Biologics are a newer category of therapy in which therapy is directed toward
neutralizing proteins in the body that are causing inflammation.
• Antibiotics may be used in addition to other medications or when infection is a concern.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - is abdominal
pain that occurs at least three times a month for
three months in a row. You also might have
constipation or diarrhea. The exact cause of IBS is
unclear.
TREATMENT
• Avoid foods that trigger your symptoms
• Eat high-fiber foods
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Exercise regularly
• Get enough sleep
• Constipation - is difficult or infrequent passage
of stool. If you have bowel movements less
than three times a week, you likely are
constipated. A common cause of constipation is
not getting enough fiber in your diet. The main
symptom of constipation is straining to go.
TREATMENT
• Drink more water
• Eat more fiber, especially soluble, non-fermentable fiber
• Exercise more
• Eat probiotic foods or take probiotic supplements
• Over-the-counter or prescription laxatives
• Try avoiding dairy