Digestion

It is the process by which food is converted into

simpler substances that can be absorbed and
utilized by the body cells.

It takes place in the lumen of the digestive tract either mechanically and
chemically by enzymes.

The parts of food that the body cannot use (with

other wastes) are eliminated in the form of
feces.
Accessory organs Alimentary canal
Mouth
Mechanical breakdown of
food.
Begins chemical
digestion of
carbohydrates.
Pharynx
Connects mouth with
oesophagus
Salivary glands
Secrete saliva, which Oesophagus
contains enzymes that Peristalsis pushes food
initiate breakdown of to stomach
carbohydrates.
Stomach
Secretes acid & enzymes.
Mixes food with
Liver secretions to begin
Produces bile which enzymatic digestion of
emulsifies fat. proteins.
Small intestine
Gall bladder ??!! Mixes food with bile,
Stores bile and pancreatic & intestinal juice.
introduces it into small Final enzymatic breakdown
intestine. of food.
Pancreas Main site of nutrient
absorption.
Produces and secretes Large intestine
pancreatic juice,
Absorbs water &
containing enzymes &
electrolytes to form feces
bicarbonate ions, into Rectum
smalll intestine. Regulates elimination of
feces
Digestive system Anus
Digestive system
 Mouth (oral cavity) (buccal cavity)
It is the first part of the digestive tract.
It contains accessory digestive organ such as teeth, salivary glands & tongue
which forms bolus (+ sense organs, speech).

The lips, cheeks and palate form the boundaries.

Break down of food into small particles mechanically by mastication
{using teeth) and chemically by mixing it with saliva (explain
later).
Pharynx
The pharynx is a fibromuscular passageway that connects the oral
and nasal cavities to the oesophagus and larynx.
So, it serves both the respiratory and digestive systems.
It is divided into 3 regions which are:
1) The upper region, the nasopharynx, is posterior to the nasal
cavity.
It contains the pharyngeal tonsils, or adenoids.
It acts as a passageway for air only.
Important note: It has no function in the digestive system.
2) The middle region is the oropharynx.
It is the first region for food to enter when it is swallowed.
The opening from the oral cavity into the oropharynx is called the
fauces.
Masses of lymphoid tissue, the palatine tonsils, are near the
fauces.
3) The lower region is the hypopharynx (laryngopharynx).
It opens into both the oesophagus and the larynx.

Food is forced into the pharynx by the tongue.

When food reaches the fauces, sensory receptors around the fauces
respond and initiate an involuntary swallowing reflex.

This reflex action has several parts where:

♣♣The uvula is elevated to prevent food from entering the

nasopharynx.
♣♣ The epiglottis drops downward to prevent food from entering the
larynx and trachea in order to direct the food into the oesophagus.

Peristaltic movements propel the food from the pharynx into the
oesophagus.
 Oesophagus (esophagus)
It is a collapsible passageway muscular tube (20 cm).
It passes through the diaphragm and ends at the cardiac orifice
(opening) of the stomach.

It is found between the trachea and the vertebral column.

Its mucosa has glands that secrete mucus (mucous) to:
* Keep the lining moist.
** Well lubricated to ease the passage of food.
The chewed food (bolus) is pushed down to the stomach
through peristaltic contraction of the oesophageal
muscles.
 Stomach
It is formed from:

1) Cardia.
{with the cardiac (oesophageal)
sphincter}

2) Fundus.

3) Body (corpus).
lesser curvature
greater curvature

4) Pylorus (antrum).
Gastric secretions
The mucosa is simple columnar epithelium with numerous tubular
gastric glands.
Four different types of cells make up the gastric glands:

1- Goblet cells: which secrete mucous (mucus).

2- Parietal (oxyntic) cells: which secrete gastric acid (HCl) and
intrinsic factor (glycoprotein). (They found in the neck of the
gastric gland).
3- Chief (peptic) (zymogenic) cells: which release pepsinogen
(which activated to pepsin) and rennin ??!!. (They found in the
base of the gastric gland).
4- Endocrine cells (G cells): which produce hormones such as
gastrin (polypeptides) (14, 17 & 34 amino acids).
Note: Also, it is secreted by G cell of duodenum.
The secretions of the exocrine gastric glands (goblet, parietal and
chief cells) make up the gastric juice.
The products of the endocrine cells are secreted directly into the
bloodstream.
Note: In stomach small, molecules such as alcohol are absorbed
directly and enter the circulatory system.
 Regulation of gastric secretions

The regulation of gastric secretion is achieved by neural and

hormonal mechanisms.
Gastric juice is produced all the time but the amount varies
according to the regulatory factors.
Regulation of gastric secretions may be divided into
cephalic, gastric and intestinal phases.
** Thoughts and smells of food start the cephalic phase of
gastric secretion;
** The presence of food in the stomach initiates the
gastric phase;
** The presence of acid chyme in the small intestine begins
the intestinal phase.
Note: Chyme is the semifluid mass of partly digested food
expelled by the stomach into the duodenum.
Stomach emptying
Relaxation of the pyloric sphincter allows chyme to pass from
the stomach into the small intestine.
The rate of emptying depends on the nature of the chyme and
the receptivity of the small intestine.

Small intestine
The small intestine extends from the pyloric sphincter to
the ileocecal valve, where it empties into the large
intestine.
It is differentiated into the following regions which are:
i) Duodenum (25 cm).
ii) Jejunum (2.5 m).
iii) Ileum (3.6 m).
Its diameter is about 2.5 – 3 cm.
The small intestine finishes the process of digestion,
absorbs the nutrients and
passes the residue on to the large intestine.
Here chyme is further mixed with three different liquids:
1) Bile:
It emulsifies fats
It neutralizes the chyme
It is used to excrete waste products.
2) Pancreatic juice:
Which is made by pancreas to digest food.
3) Intestineal juice:
Which is made by small intestine to complete the
digestion.
Regulation
The most important factor for regulating secretions in the
small intestine is the presence of chyme.
This is largely a local reflex action in response to chemical
and mechanical irritation from the chyme and in response
to distention of the intestinal wall.
This is a direct reflex action.
Thus the greater the amount of chyme, the greater the
secretion.
 Large Intestine
It extends from ileocecal valve to the anus.
Its length is about 1.5 m & diameter is about 6 – 7 cm.

Its subdivisions are:

i) Cecum.
ii) Appendix.
iii) Colon.
a) Ascending colon.
b) Transverse colon.
c) Descending colon.
d) Sigmoid colon.
iv) Rectum.
v) Anus.
Its function:
Absorb the remaining water from indigestible food matter.
Eliminates the wastes from the body.
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