Unit 8 assignment C
Digestive system
I will discuss and compare how dietary-related illnesses impair the digestive system's proper
functioning throughout this report. I will also evaluate the effects and effectiveness of therapy for
dietary disorders and suggest suitable treatments for the diseases.
What is digestion and the digestive system?
Digestion is the process of breaking down food into nutrients, which the body uses for energy,
development, and cell repair. Waste is created throughout the digesting process and must be
removed. It is made up of a sequence of muscles that coordinate food movement and other cells
that create enzymes and hormones that aid in food digestion. The liver, gall bladder, and pancreas
are three organs that are required for digestion along the way.in addition, the digestive system is a
series of hollow organs joined in a long, tube from the mouth to the anus. An interior lining called
mucosa can be found in the mouth, stomach, and small intestine. These glands produce juices that
aid digestion. The liver and the pancreas produce digestive fluids that travel through small tubes to
the small intestine. Parts of other organ systems (like nerves and blood) additionally play a vital role
in the digestive system.
The function of the digestive system
The digestive system's job is to digest and absorb food. Food is broken down into smaller molecules
that are absorbed through the walls of the digestive tract and is passed into blood / lymphatic
vessels during digestion. The process of chemical digestion is called hydrolysis, and it involves the
utilisation of water and digestive enzymes to break down molecules. To speed up the hydrolysis
process, digestive enzymes are utilised. In addition, the digestive system is divided into two distinct
sections: the alimentary tract and accessory organs. These organs are significantly important for the
digestive system as they both go hand in hand to aid for a successful digestion and absorption of
nutrients throughout the body. The alimentary tract consists of organs such as the: mouth, pharynx,
oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus. These organs are particularly
important as it’s the primary source of digestion and absorption of nutrients. Moreover, the
accessory organs in the digestive system are compromised of the liver, salivary glands, pancreas,
teeth and teeth. Accessory organs also play a key role as in addition to secreting substances that
enter the alimentary canal through the ducts, the accessory organs also store substances in their
secreted forms.
Mouth- the mouth secretes saliva from its salivary glands, which contains an enzyme called amylase.
This enzyme breaks down starch from food into simpler molecular structures. through a process of
mastication, where teeth break down the food, the mouth breaks down the food into smaller
molecules for easier digestion.
Pharynx- in the pharynx, the act of swallowing occurs as a reflex the muscles surrounding the
pharynx help to transport food and liquid through the oesophagus. Food is forced through the
pharynx and then through the oesophagus by the soft part of the roof of the mouth.
Oesophagus- the oesophagus connects the mouth to the stomach and contracts, enabling food to
reach the stomach. The contractions are called peristalsis, which is caused by swallowed food
moving down the oesophagus and into the stomach.
, Stomach - The stomach is a bacteria-killing organ that produces hydrochloric acid. The fundamental
function of the stomach is to store and break down digested food. Chemical digestion is the most
common method of digestion, which involves the secretion of enzymes to break down meals.
Pepsin's release into the stomach, for example, is chemical digestion that breaks down proteins.
Peristaltic contractions of smooth muscle also help in mechanical digestion in the stomach. The food
is further broken down into tiny particles as a result of this process.
Small intestine - The small intestine is an organ that takes nutrients from the stomach into the
bloodstream via villi. Chemical digestion necessitates the production of digestive juices/enzymes by
the walls of the small intestine. Amylase breaks down starch into simple sugars, lipase breaks down
lipids into fatty acids, and protease breaks down proteins into amino acids, among other enzymes.
The large intestine is an organ that reabsorbs water and mineral ions (sodium and chloride) from
non-digested food and eliminates waste products. It connects the substance to the rectum and
allows it to go there. Water is absorbed through the osmosis process in the large intestine, and
minerals like sodium are absorbed through sodium channels.
Rectum - used to retain material that hasn't been digested as food before being expelled from the
body.
Anus- the opening at the lower end of the large intestine, it is where the waste is evacuated in the
form of faeces.
Pancreas- the pancreas is an organ that secretes pancreatic fluid into the small intestine to
neutralise the bowel's hydrochloric acid.
Liver- The liver is the body's second largest organ after the skin, and it serves a variety of functions in
our bodies. For example, the liver processes bile, a digestive juice that aids in fat absorption into the
bloodstream. It also secretes bile to help the small intestine emulsify lipids. The liver converts food
into energy, while insulin changes excess sugar-containing food into glycogen, which is then stored
in the liver. The liver also detoxifies chemicals and cleanses the blood, removing major poisons like
alcohol and narcotics.
Gall bladder- The gall bladder is a small storage organ located close to the liver that stores bile until
it is needed to break down food in the small intestine’s duodenum.
