Digestive System
Compiled By:
Kabi Pravakar Das
MSc Yoga (S-VYASA Unversity, Bengaluru
MA Yoga (Maharshi University of Management & Technology, CG)
YIC, QCI Certified Yoga Trainer
Certified Holistic Health Educator & Herbal Cosmetologist
Digestive System
The digestive system includes the digestive tract and its
accessory organs, which process food into molecules that can
be absorbed and utilized by the cells of the body, Food is
broken down, bit by bit, until the molecules are small enough
to be absorbed and the waste products are eliminated The
digestive tract, also called the alimentary canal or
gastrointestinal (GI) tract, consists of a long continuous tube
that extends from the mouth to the anus. It includes the
mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and
large intestine. The tongue and teeth are accessory structures
located in the mouth. The salivary glands, liver, gallbladder,
and pancreas are major accessory organs that have a role in
digestion. These organs secrete fluids into the digestive tract
Food undergoes three types of processes in the body:>
Digestion> Absorption> Elimination
Digestive System
PARTS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
1. Mouth
2. Pharynx
3. Esophagus
4. Stomach
5. Small intestine
6. Large intestine
7. Rectum
8. Anus
ACCESSORY PARTS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
1. Liver
2. Gall Bladder
3. Pancreas
Digestive System
Mouth- Oral Cavity
The important structures of mouth are
1) Tongue
2) Teeth
3) Salivary glands.
Mouth- Oral Cavity
TONGUE:
Tongue lies in the floor of the mouth and it is attached to
hyoid bone.
Tongue contains:
1. A root at which blood vessels and nerves pass.
2. A tip which is pointed when the tongue is protruded and
rounded when the tongue is in the mouth.
3. Two margins which are in contact with lower teeth.
4. An upper surface which contains a small elevation
called dorsum
5. A lower surface which contains a soft ligamentous
structure called frenulum.
Mouth- Oral Cavity
TEETH
Mouth- Oral Cavity
Salivary Gland
There are three pairs of salivary glands in the mouth. They
are parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands.
Parotid glands One on each side is present below and in
front of each ear. Each gland has a duct.
This duct opens on the inner side of cheek opposite to the
second upper molar tooth.
Submandibular glands They are similar than parotid
glands. One on each side lies under the angle of jaw. Each
gland has a duct which opens near the mid line under the
tongue.
Mouth- Oral Cavity
Sublingual glands: They are the smallest salivary glands which
lie under the tongue. They pour the secretions directly into the
mouth through several small openings.
SALIVA: It is a mixed secretion of all the three pairs of salivary
glands. It is an alkaline fluid containing water to the extent of
99%.
Functions:1. It converts cooked starch into a soluble sugar
called maltose.
2. It acts as a solvent for food and helps in its swallowing.
3. It moistens, lubricates and cleans the mouth.
4. It excretes organic and inorganic substances and some drugs.
Pharynx
Pharynx lies between the mouth and esophagus.
Esophagus
It is a muscular tube which extends between pharynx
above and cardiac orifice of stomach below. It lies between
trachea in front and vertebral column at the back. From the
thorax, it enters the abdomen through the esophageal
opening of diaphragm. The esophagus contains sphincters
at its upper and lower ends. These sphincters relax during
swallowing.
Stomach
Stomach is the dilated portion of alimentary canal and it
receives food from esophagus. It lies in the upper of
abdominal cavity below the left half of diaphragm
Small intestine
Small intestine is the part of alimentary canal which
extends from the pyloric end of stomach to caecum (the
first part of large intestine).
Parts of Small intestine
Duodenum It is attached to
posterior abdominal wall. The
a C-shaped fixed part which is
head of pancreas lies in the
concavity of duodenum. Also
the bile duct and pancreatic
duct open together at the
concave surface.
Jejunum It is the continuation
of duodenum and it is the
middle portion of small
intestine.
Ileum It forms the last part of
small intestine.
Large intestine
Large intestine (colon) extends from the end of ileum
to rectum. Large intestine consists of the following
parts caecum, appendix, ascending colon, transverse
colon and sigmoid colon.
Rectum
It occupies the lower posterior part of pelvis. It extends
between sigmoid colon and anus. The lower part of rectum
is dilated and it is called rectal ampulla.
Anus
It is a small canal measuring about one inch in length. The
opening of anus is guarded by a sphincter called anal
sphincter. This sphincter is under voluntary control.
Liver
Liver is the largest abdominal organ. It lies in the upper
part of abdominal cavity below the diaphragm and under
the cover of lower ribs. Externally, the liver contains two
lobes .
Function of Liver
1. Secretion of bile.
2. Synthesis and storage of glycogen.
3. Formation of urea by the de-amination of amino acids.
4. Synthesis of plasma proteins like albumin and globulin.
5. Conversion of unsaturated fats into saturated fats.
6. Storage of iron and Vitamin B12 (which are necessary for the
formation of RBC).
7. Synthesis of prothrombin and fibrinogen which are necessary
for blood coagulation.
8. Synthesis of heparin, the natural anticoagulant.
9. Production of heat as a result of metabolic reaction.
10. Inactivation of toxic substances and drugs.
11. Storage of vitamins A, D, E and K.
Gall Bladder
Gall bladder is a pear
shaped storage sac for
bile. It is situated in the
under surface of the right
lobe of liver.
Functions
The gall bladder stores
the bile that is secreted in
liver.
Pancreas
Pancreas is a long, slender
gland which lies
transversely across the
posterior abdominal wall.
It lies behind the stomach
at the level of Ist and 2nd
lumbar vertebrae.
Secretion of Pancreas
1. Exocrine secretion It is pancreatic juice which is digestive
in function. It is conveyed to duodenum through pancreatic
duct. Pancreatic juice contains the following digestive
enzymes:
i) Lipase, which converts fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
ii) Amylase which converts starch into maltose.
iii) Trypsin which converts peptones into amino acids.
2. Endocrine secretion is directly poured into circulation.
This secretion contains two different hormones which are
secreted by the two different cells of islets of Langerhans.
These hormones are:
i) Glucagon secreted by alpha cells
ii) Insulin secreted by beta cells
The Digestion Process
Ingestion
The first activity of the digestive system is to take in food through the
mouth. This process, called ingestion, has to take place before
anything else can happen.
Mechanical Digestion
The large pieces of food that are ingested have to be broken into
smaller particles that can be acted upon by various enzymes. This is
mechanical digestion, which begins in the mouth with chewing or
mastication and continues with churning and mixing actions in the
stomach.
Chemical Digestion
The complex molecules of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are
transformed by chemical digestion into smaller molecules that can be
absorbed and utilized by the cells. Chemical digestion, through a
process called hydrolysis, uses water and digestive enzymes to break
down the complex molecules. Digestive enzymes speed up the
hydrolysis process, which is otherwise very slow.
The Digestion Process
Movements
After ingestion and mastication, the food particles move
from the mouth into the pharynx, then into the esophagus.
This movement is deglutition, or swallowing. Mixing
movements occur in the stomach as a result of smooth
muscle contraction. These repetitive contractions usually
occur in small segments of the digestive tract and mix the
food particles with enzymes and other fluids. The
movements that propel the food particles through the
digestive tract are called peristalsis. These are rhythmic
waves of contractions that move the food particles through
the various regions in which mechanical and chemical
digestion takes place.
The Digestion Process
Absorption
The simple molecules that result from chemical
digestion pass through cell membranes of the lining in
the small intestine into the blood capillaries. This
process is called absorption.
Elimination
The food molecules that cannot be digested or absorbed
need to be eliminated from the body The removal of
indigestible wastes through the anus, in the form of
feces, is defecation or elimination.