Basic Study Guide for Digestive System

Basic Study Guide for Digestive System

Certainly! Here's a basic study guide for the digestive system:

Anatomy of the Digestive System:

1. Mouth:
 Functions: Ingestion, mechanical digestion (chewing), and chemical
digestion (salivary amylase breaks down starch).
 Salivary glands produce saliva to moisten food.
2. Pharynx:
 Common passage for both food and air.
 Epiglottis prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing.
3. Esophagus:
 Muscular tube that transports food from the pharynx to the stomach
via peristalsis.
4. Stomach:
 Functions: Temporary storage, mechanical digestion (churning), and
chemical digestion (gastric juices break down proteins).
 Pepsin and hydrochloric acid aid in protein digestion.
5. Small Intestine:
 Divided into three parts: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
 Main site of nutrient absorption.
 Enzymes from pancreas (pancreatic amylase, lipase) and bile from the
liver aid digestion.
6. Liver:
 Produces bile, which emulsifies fats for better digestion.
 Detoxifies blood and stores glycogen.
7. Gallbladder:
 Stores and releases bile produced by the liver.
8. Pancreas:
 Produces digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, proteases) and releases
them into the small intestine.
9. Large Intestine (Colon):
 Absorbs water and electrolytes.
 Houses gut bacteria (intestinal flora) that aid in fermentation and
produce some vitamins.
10. Rectum:
 Stores feces until ready for elimination.
11. Anus:
 Opening for the elimination of feces.