Introduction The human digestive system is a complex system involving ingestion, digestion, absorption and assimilation of the food we eat. The digestive system starts at the mouth and ends at the rectum. Each stage of the system has its own unique function; these functions are listed below: Ingestion- this is the intake of food into…
Tag: Nutrition in Man
The mouth
The mouth The mouth is the starting place for the digestive system and thus the point at which ingestion occurs. It serves to mechanically break food into smaller pieces by biting and chewing. The mouth has four (4) types of teeth: Incisors: chisel shaped teeth in the front of the mouth and serves in biting.…
Esophagus and Stomach
Esophagus and Stomach Esophagus It is a thick walled muscular tube located behind the larynx (vocal cords) and pharynx (wind pipe).It is through this tube that the bolus created in the mouth is carried to the stomach by a process called peristalsis. Stomach This is a muscular pouch located in the abdominal cavity. The stomach…
Small Intestine
Small Intestine The partly digested food enters the small intestine where it is completely digested by intestinal, pancreatic and bile enzymes. Digested food is broken down into the final products of amino acids, glucose, fatty acids and glycerol, and monosaccharide (glucose, fructose and etc.) The small intestine is made up of 2 sections: the duodenum…
Absorption
Absorption Different food stuff is absorbed at different parts of the digestive system. See table below for list of where substances are absorbed. Region of digestive system Substance absorbed Mouth Alcohol, salts, vitamin C Stomach Alcohol, salts, simple sugars and soluble vitamins Small intestine Amino acids, simple sugars, soluble fats, vitamin Large intestine Minerals, vitamins…