Let’s follow the path of a delicious ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce and pickles as it is
eaten and digested! Start at the beginning and discuss the anatomical parts as well as the
biochemical roles that contribute to this sandwich being turned into chemical energy. Be sure to
include mechanical and chemical mechanisms, along with how they are metabolized in the body!
What happens if one part does not function? For example, what happens to digestion if the
person is missing many teeth but can't afford dentures or perhaps has a digestive disorder?
1. What stress factors may cause issues in the digestive tract for some people?
2. How can a regular exercise program aid in the development of a healthy digestive tract?
3. How might digestion and metabolism be different over the life span?
As we eat, the organs of the digestive system form the gastrointestinal track (GI) to
create an open tube that runs from our mouth to the anus (Grodner, Roth, Walkingshaw,
2007). The chemical breakdown of food particles from the digestive organs are being
used by various cells within the body to function properly. Digestion begins with the
mouth. The stimulation of food in the mouth is done by chemical and mechanical
digestion. Chemical digestion occurs through saliva and amylase that begins the
digestive process of starches. Mechanical digestion depends on teeth and tongue that
also occur in the mouth. Teeth help to tear and pulverize food, and tongue assists food
into chewing positions and helps pulverized food to send into the esophagus (Grodner,
Roth, Walkingshaw, 2007). When the food is taken into the mouth, the teeth or the
mouth help food to breakdown with the help of enzymes called salivary amylase. For
example, when the ham and cheese sandwich is taken, the amylase and mucous
membrane chemically altered the sandwich so that it would be easier to pass the food
through the esophagus. When the food reaches the esophagus, the bolus that was
formed by the mucous membrane is propelled by a movement called peristalsis
(Ramsay & Carr, 2011). From esophagus, the bolus is sent through the cardiac
This study source was downloaded by 100000827506713 from CourseHero.com on 08-02-2022 09:11:19 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/20428938/Week-1-discussion/
, sphincter to the stomach. The primary function of the stomach is to prepare food for
digestion and absorption by the intestine (Ramsay & Carr, 2011). The stomach glands
secrete mucous to protect the stomach linings from ulcers. In the stomach, the food is
reduced to chyme or solid substance. After that these substances enters the small
intestine and large intestine. The small intestine produces digestive enzymes to further
breakdown the food and nutrients and chymes are prepared for absorptions. The small
intestine is the major organ for digestion and the final stage of digestive process. In this
organ, the most of the chyme is absorbed, and the remaining minerals, water, and fibers
are sent into the large intestine. In the large intestine, final absorption of any available
nutrients takes place, and it removes water and electrolytes. Lastly, the waste products
are stored in the rectum and eliminated through the anus.
If the person is missing many teeth but can't afford dentures or perhaps has a
digestive disorder, he/she is unable to break down certain carbohydrates, fruits and
vegetables, and other essential nutrients because chewing of food is required to
produce enough produce saliva in the mouth. Without teeth, people have changes in
food preferences and subsequent nutrient deficiencies which results in illnesses and GI
disturbances.
Stress can affect digestion and cause digestive diseases. Stressful situation
activates flight or fight response in our CNS (central nervous system) and effect blood
flow, contractions of digestive muscles, and decreases secretions that are needed for
digestion of food. Stress also causes inflammation of GI system and makes individuals
vulnerable to infection (Grodner, Roth, Walkingshaw, 2007). Exercise is important for
our overall health. Regular exercise improves blood flow throughout the body including
This study source was downloaded by 100000827506713 from CourseHero.com on 08-02-2022 09:11:19 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/20428938/Week-1-discussion/
eaten and digested! Start at the beginning and discuss the anatomical parts as well as the
biochemical roles that contribute to this sandwich being turned into chemical energy. Be sure to
include mechanical and chemical mechanisms, along with how they are metabolized in the body!
What happens if one part does not function? For example, what happens to digestion if the
person is missing many teeth but can't afford dentures or perhaps has a digestive disorder?
1. What stress factors may cause issues in the digestive tract for some people?
2. How can a regular exercise program aid in the development of a healthy digestive tract?
3. How might digestion and metabolism be different over the life span?
As we eat, the organs of the digestive system form the gastrointestinal track (GI) to
create an open tube that runs from our mouth to the anus (Grodner, Roth, Walkingshaw,
2007). The chemical breakdown of food particles from the digestive organs are being
used by various cells within the body to function properly. Digestion begins with the
mouth. The stimulation of food in the mouth is done by chemical and mechanical
digestion. Chemical digestion occurs through saliva and amylase that begins the
digestive process of starches. Mechanical digestion depends on teeth and tongue that
also occur in the mouth. Teeth help to tear and pulverize food, and tongue assists food
into chewing positions and helps pulverized food to send into the esophagus (Grodner,
Roth, Walkingshaw, 2007). When the food is taken into the mouth, the teeth or the
mouth help food to breakdown with the help of enzymes called salivary amylase. For
example, when the ham and cheese sandwich is taken, the amylase and mucous
membrane chemically altered the sandwich so that it would be easier to pass the food
through the esophagus. When the food reaches the esophagus, the bolus that was
formed by the mucous membrane is propelled by a movement called peristalsis
(Ramsay & Carr, 2011). From esophagus, the bolus is sent through the cardiac
This study source was downloaded by 100000827506713 from CourseHero.com on 08-02-2022 09:11:19 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/20428938/Week-1-discussion/
, sphincter to the stomach. The primary function of the stomach is to prepare food for
digestion and absorption by the intestine (Ramsay & Carr, 2011). The stomach glands
secrete mucous to protect the stomach linings from ulcers. In the stomach, the food is
reduced to chyme or solid substance. After that these substances enters the small
intestine and large intestine. The small intestine produces digestive enzymes to further
breakdown the food and nutrients and chymes are prepared for absorptions. The small
intestine is the major organ for digestion and the final stage of digestive process. In this
organ, the most of the chyme is absorbed, and the remaining minerals, water, and fibers
are sent into the large intestine. In the large intestine, final absorption of any available
nutrients takes place, and it removes water and electrolytes. Lastly, the waste products
are stored in the rectum and eliminated through the anus.
If the person is missing many teeth but can't afford dentures or perhaps has a
digestive disorder, he/she is unable to break down certain carbohydrates, fruits and
vegetables, and other essential nutrients because chewing of food is required to
produce enough produce saliva in the mouth. Without teeth, people have changes in
food preferences and subsequent nutrient deficiencies which results in illnesses and GI
disturbances.
Stress can affect digestion and cause digestive diseases. Stressful situation
activates flight or fight response in our CNS (central nervous system) and effect blood
flow, contractions of digestive muscles, and decreases secretions that are needed for
digestion of food. Stress also causes inflammation of GI system and makes individuals
vulnerable to infection (Grodner, Roth, Walkingshaw, 2007). Exercise is important for
our overall health. Regular exercise improves blood flow throughout the body including
This study source was downloaded by 100000827506713 from CourseHero.com on 08-02-2022 09:11:19 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/20428938/Week-1-discussion/
