100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached
logo-home
Unit 8 assignment C: Digestive System $9.88   Add to cart

Essay

Unit 8 assignment C: Digestive System

 50 views  0 purchase
  • Course
  • Institution
  • Book

This is a graded DISTINCTION level assignment. For Unit 8 learning aim C, the physiology of human body system. This assignment 100% met all of the set criteria. This will serve as sufficient guidance to help you achieve a distinction. Please do not copy this word for word as this will count as plag...

[Show more]

Preview 4 out of 30  pages

  • June 16, 2024
  • 30
  • 2022/2023
  • Essay
  • Unknown
  • A+
avatar-seller
Unit 8: Nutrition and Health

In this assignment, I'll write a report on the functions of the digestive system as-well as
outlining and contrasting how a specific dietary disorder affects the digestive system's ability
to function normally. Additionally, I'll assess the results and potency of the dietary disorder
treatment options.

What is the digestive system?

The digestive system is a sophisticated network of glands and organs that collaborate to
break down and absorb nutrients from meals. In order for food to be digested and utilised
by the body for energy, development, and repair, it must first be broken down into smaller
molecules via the digestive system. The mouth is the first stop in the digestive process,
where food is mechanically broken down by chewing and combined with saliva that includes
enzymes that aid in the breakdown of carbohydrates. The food then travels via the
oesophagus and into the stomach, where acid and enzymes further break it down. The
majority of nutritional absorption takes place in the small intestine, which receives the
partially digested meal after the stomach. Villi, which resemble tiny fingers and border the
small intestine, enhance the surface area for absorption. Digestive enzymes and bile are also
provided by the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Any waste that is still present eventually
enters the large intestine, where it is water-absorbed and stored until it is expelled from the
body through the rectum and anus.

,P5:

,Functions of parts of the digestive system:

The digestive system is a sophisticated system that disintegrates food into tiny pieces so that
the body can absorb and utilise them. The function of each organ and the digestive fluids
that are connected to it are described in depth below:


Stomach: An important part of the digestive system is the stomach, a muscular sac in the
upper abdomen. Prior to food entering the small intestine for additional digestion and
absorption, it stores and breaks down food. Food is combined with digestive juices and
enzymes released by the stomach walls when it enters the stomach. These digestive juices
and enzymes, which include hydrochloric acid, pepsinogen, and mucus, are produced by the
gastric glands, which are found in the stomach lining. By dissolving food proteins and
generating an acidic environment in the stomach that is necessary for the activation of other
digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid plays a significant role in the digestion process. The
main cells in the stomach lining create pepsinogen, which is activated by the acidic
environment and transforms into pepsin, which aids in the breakdown of proteins into
smaller amino acids. The goblet cells in the stomach lining secrete mucus, which helps to
shield the stomach lining from the corrosive effects of the digestive juices' acidity. Chyme is a
semi-liquid combination that is created when the muscles of the stomach wall flex,
combining the meal with the digestive juices and enzymes. The pyloric sphincter, a muscle
valve at the base of the stomach, then allows the chyme to be discharged in minute
amounts into the small intestine. The stomach not only aids in the breakdown of food but
also aids in the absorption of various nutrients, including alcohol and some medications. It
also acts as a temporary food storage space, enabling the body to gradually digest and
absorb nutrients. All things considered, the stomach is an essential component of the
digestive system since it serves as the site for the early digestion and processing of food.

, Mouth: The mouth is a crucial starting point in the digestive system and is responsible for
breaking down food. Its main purpose is to use chewing and grinding to mechanically break
down food, which increases its surface area, making it easier to digest. Saliva is the digestive
juice that the mouth secretes. It contains enzymes that begin the chemical breakdown of
carbohydrates. Amylase, one of the enzymes present in saliva, breaks down starches into
simpler sugars like glucose and maltose. This chemical process starts in the mouth and
continues in the small intestine. After food is chewed and mixed with saliva, it becomes a
soft, moist mass called a bolus, which is easy to swallow. The tongue and mouth muscles
work together to move the bolus towards the back of the throat and into the oesophagus,
which leads to the stomach. The mouth also has a role in taste, which can affect the
digestive process. Taste buds in the tongue and other mouth areas detect different flavours
and transmit signals to the brain, which can stimulate the release of digestive juices in
preparation for food. To sum up, the mouth is the digestive system's starting point and is
responsible for mechanically breaking down food through chewing and grinding and
chemically through the presence of enzymes like amylase in saliva. Additionally, the mouth
plays a role in taste, which can impact the digestive process by initiating the release of
digestive juices.

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller amaan202. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for $9.88. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

60434 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now

Start selling
$9.88
  • (0)
  Add to cart