What It Does With Food

Organ Mouth

What It Does With Food The teeth break food into smaller bits, which are formed into a soft ball, called a bolus, by the tongue. Saliva lubricates the food and begins chemical digestion. The pharynx pushes the bolus into the esophagus. The bolus is moved through the 10-inch esophagus by a series of coordinated, wave-like contractions. At the end of the short journey, the opening to the stomach relaxes and opens until the bolus of food passes, then closes again to prevent stomach contents from backing up.

How Long Food Is There Minutes or less

Pharynx, or throat Esophagus

Seconds One to six seconds for liquids; 30 to 60 seconds for solids Four hours (longer if a meal includes fatty foods)

Stomach

The stomach muscles keep food in motion and churn it with gastric juices containing enzymes and hydrochloric acid, killing potentially harmful bacteria and microorganisms and continuing the breakdown of food into smaller and smaller pieces. The resulting material is now called chyme. The duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) adds bile and pancreatic juice to the chyme, which helps the intestines digest and absorb nutrients from the food. Most digestion and absorption take place in the small intestine. Sodium and other salts, and most importantly water, are absorbed here. Leftover waste material is slowly pushed through the colon by muscular contractions until it reaches the rectum. Stool is ultimately eliminated from the body during a bowel movement from the rectum.

Small intestine

Food first spends four hours in the duodenum, then two hours in the rest of the small intestine 14 hours

Large intestine

Effects of Radiation Levels on the Human Body

Dose-rem

Effects

5-20

Possible late effects; possible chromosomal damage.

20-100

Temporary reduction in white blood cells.

100-200

Mild radiation sickness within a few hours: vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue; reduction in resistance to infection.

200-300

Serious radiation sickness effects as in 100-200 rem and hemorrhage; exposure is a Lethal Dose to 10-35% of the population after 30 days (LD 10-35/30).

300-400

Serious radiation sickness; also marrow and intestine destruction; LD 50-70/30.

400-1000

Acute illness, early death; LD 60-95/30.

1000-5000

Acute illness, early death in days; LD 100/10.

Radiation damage Introduction: Radiation damage to cells in the body can happen after a person receives radiation therapy to treat cancer. It can also happen if a person is exposed to radiation through x-ray imaging, nuclear power, or fallout from nuclear weapons. If severe enough, radiation damage may cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health problems. Doctors try to protect people undergoing radiation therapy for cancer by using low doses, being precise about where the radiation is targeted, and minimizing side effects. Usually side effects go away after the treatment stops. Signs and Symptoms: Radiation damage can cause a number of symptoms. These are common side effects when a person undergoes radiation treatment for cancer:

Hair loss

Stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea Low white blood cells (leucopenia) Red and itchy skin at the site of the radiation Sore mouth or mouth ulcers (oral mucositis)

Radiation sickness or radiation emergency happens after exposure to a large amount of radiation. Acute radiation sickness occurs within 24 hours of exposure. Chronic radiation syndrome is a range of symptoms occurring over a period of time. These symptoms can happen immediately or months or years after exposure to radiation:

Radiation syndrome -- fatigue, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, fever, headache. With bleeding and complications affecting the digestive system, nervous system, heart, and lungs Central nervous system diseases Kidney, liver, or gastrointestinal problems Poor growth in children Skin conditions Pericarditis (inflammation of the sac around the heart) Lung infections or conditions, respiratory failure Vision problems, including cataracts Problems with the reproductive organs

What Causes It? Damage happens when radiation interacts with oxygen, causing certain molecules to form in the body. These molecules can damage or break strands of DNA in cells. The cells may die.