Digestive System
Unit 8 Assignment 3
Introduction
In this report I will be identifying the different parts of the digestive system and explaining
their functions as to why they’re critical to the human body. The human body contains
enzymes and amino acids that assist with digestion and break down different food types. An
investigation will also be carried out to test the different food types and discover what they
consist of. There are also numerous diseases and medical conditions associated with the
digestive systems that affect it severely. I will be looking at treatments to evaluate their rates
of success and other factors to conclude if they’re effective and worth receiving.
Organ Function Organ Function
Mouth The mouth is the first Salivary Glands The salivary glands
- Mechanical part of the digestive tract. produce saliva that
When food enters, the contains an enzyme
Digestion mouth uses mechanical known as amylase.
digestion to chew Amylase breaks down
the food that has starch
present.
Oesophagus The oesophagus Pharynx The pharynx is
- secretes mucus and responsible for carrying
takes the food from the fluids and foods from the
mouth to the stomach mouth down to the
oesophagus
Liver The liver processes the Stomach The stomach is a hollow
nutrients and produces organ that is filled with
critical chemicals from hydrochloric acid and
the consumed items. It enzymes that hold and
also removes and filters mix the food as it is
the toxins and waste being broken down by
present in the body. It the substances present.
also produces bile.
Gallbladder The gallbladder stores Large Intestine The large intestine, also
bile and releases it into known as the colon,
the small intestine. removes water from the
, waste as they're
received and processed.
It also breaks down the
proteins that are present
Pancreas The pancreas produces Rectum The rectum connects to
digestive enzymes, the anus. It is
regulates blood sugar responsible for holding
levels and is vital for feces before expulsion.
insulin production. The large intestine
empties the waste into
the rectum.
Small Intestine The small intestine is Anus The anus is a small
incredibly long. It mixes canal that excretes the
the food with digestive waste from the body.
enzymes. It is also
responsible for absorbing
nutrients into the
bloodstream for the rest
of the body to use.
The duodenum is the
first part of the small
intestine that connects to
the stomach by the
pyloric sphincter. When
Duodenum the food mixes with the
stomach acid, it moves
into the duodenum,
where it gets mixed with
bile gallbladder and
pancreatic digestive
juices. Minimal
absorption occurs in the
duodenum.
The jejunum extends
approximately ⅖ of the
small intestine. It has an
extensive blood supply
which makes it a deep
red colour and is a vital
absorption site. Its
peristaltic movements
are rapid and vigorous.
Most of the absorption
happens in the ileum,
Jejunum The ileum is the longest
part of the small intestine
and is approximately 2-4
metres long. The ileum is
located in the lower
abdomen region. The
walls of the ileum are
narrower and thinner
than the previous
sections of the small
intestine; the blood
supply however is more
limited. The peristaltic
movements however are
slower which means
there is more time for
Ileum nutrients to be absorbed
Unit 8 Assignment 3
Introduction
In this report I will be identifying the different parts of the digestive system and explaining
their functions as to why they’re critical to the human body. The human body contains
enzymes and amino acids that assist with digestion and break down different food types. An
investigation will also be carried out to test the different food types and discover what they
consist of. There are also numerous diseases and medical conditions associated with the
digestive systems that affect it severely. I will be looking at treatments to evaluate their rates
of success and other factors to conclude if they’re effective and worth receiving.
Organ Function Organ Function
Mouth The mouth is the first Salivary Glands The salivary glands
- Mechanical part of the digestive tract. produce saliva that
When food enters, the contains an enzyme
Digestion mouth uses mechanical known as amylase.
digestion to chew Amylase breaks down
the food that has starch
present.
Oesophagus The oesophagus Pharynx The pharynx is
- secretes mucus and responsible for carrying
takes the food from the fluids and foods from the
mouth to the stomach mouth down to the
oesophagus
Liver The liver processes the Stomach The stomach is a hollow
nutrients and produces organ that is filled with
critical chemicals from hydrochloric acid and
the consumed items. It enzymes that hold and
also removes and filters mix the food as it is
the toxins and waste being broken down by
present in the body. It the substances present.
also produces bile.
Gallbladder The gallbladder stores Large Intestine The large intestine, also
bile and releases it into known as the colon,
the small intestine. removes water from the
, waste as they're
received and processed.
It also breaks down the
proteins that are present
Pancreas The pancreas produces Rectum The rectum connects to
digestive enzymes, the anus. It is
regulates blood sugar responsible for holding
levels and is vital for feces before expulsion.
insulin production. The large intestine
empties the waste into
the rectum.
Small Intestine The small intestine is Anus The anus is a small
incredibly long. It mixes canal that excretes the
the food with digestive waste from the body.
enzymes. It is also
responsible for absorbing
nutrients into the
bloodstream for the rest
of the body to use.
The duodenum is the
first part of the small
intestine that connects to
the stomach by the
pyloric sphincter. When
Duodenum the food mixes with the
stomach acid, it moves
into the duodenum,
where it gets mixed with
bile gallbladder and
pancreatic digestive
juices. Minimal
absorption occurs in the
duodenum.
The jejunum extends
approximately ⅖ of the
small intestine. It has an
extensive blood supply
which makes it a deep
red colour and is a vital
absorption site. Its
peristaltic movements
are rapid and vigorous.
Most of the absorption
happens in the ileum,
Jejunum The ileum is the longest
part of the small intestine
and is approximately 2-4
metres long. The ileum is
located in the lower
abdomen region. The
walls of the ileum are
narrower and thinner
than the previous
sections of the small
intestine; the blood
supply however is more
limited. The peristaltic
movements however are
slower which means
there is more time for
Ileum nutrients to be absorbed
