Digestive Sysytem

The main purpose of the Digestive system is to break down food and absorb nutrients.
There are two basic divisions to the digestive system; these are the gastrointestinal (GI) tract,
also known as the alimentary canal, and the accessory digestive organs. Your mouth, pharynx,
esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine compose the GI tract, and your teeth,
tongue, salivary glands, liver, gall bladder and pancreas are accessory organs.

Mouth

The mouth is the starting point in the digestive system. Both mechanical and chemical digestion
can occur here. The teeth grind food for mechanical digestions while the salivary gland break
down for chemically for chemical digestion.

Salivary Glands

The salivary glands release saliva. The saliva breaks down food chemically. You have three
major salivary glands. One on the top of your mouth, one on the bottom and one that covers both
sides. Saliva breaks up food using the enzyme salivary amylase.
Esophagus (also Oesophagus)

The esophagus, a muscular tube through which partially digested food travels, connects the
mouth and the stomach. Food goes down the esophagus using peristalsis, a pattern of muscular
movements, contracting and expanding.

Stomach

The stomach's job is to break down large food molecules into smaller pieces, so that they are
more easily absorbed into the blood.

The stomach can give off two or three liters of gastric juices per day. This juice can even destroy
the inner liner of the stomach. This is why the inner lining of the stomach is replaced every two
to three days.

Pancreas
The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum, the first segment of the small
intestine. These enzymes break down protein, fats, and carbohydrates. The pancreas also makes
insulin.

Liver
The liver has multiple functions, but its main function within the digestive system is to process
the nutrients absorbed from the small intestine. Bile from the liver secreted into the small
intestine also plays an important role in digesting fat. In addition, the liver is the body's chemical
"factory." It takes the raw materials absorbed by the intestine and makes all the various
chemicals the body needs to function. The liver also detoxifies potentially harmful chemicals. It
breaks down and secretes many drugs.secreting it directly into the bloodstream. Insulin is the
chief hormone for metabolizing sugar.

Gallbladder
The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile, and then releases it into the duodenum to help
absorb and digest fats.

Small Intestine

The small intestine connects the stomach and the colon or large intestine. It has three parts. They
are the duodenum, jejunum, and the ileum. The walls of the small intestine are lined with villi.
Villi help absorb nutrients and put them into the blood. The duodenum is largely responsible for
the continuous breaking-down process, with the jejunum and ileum mainly responsible for
absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.
Large Intestine (Colon)

The large intestine is used to remove water from solid waste. It is 1.5 meters in length. It also
absorbs some vitamins such as vitamin k.

Rectum
The rectum (Latin for "straight") is an 8-inch chamber that connects the colon to the anus. It is
the rectum's job to receive stool from the colon, to let the person know that there is stool to be
evacuated, and to hold the stool until evacuation happens.

Anus
The anus is the last part of the digestive tract. It is a 2-inch long canal consisting of the pelvic
floor muscles and the two anal sphincters (internal and external).