The food that we eat makes an incredible journey through our body from the upper portion (our mouth)
to the lower portion (our anus). Along the way the beneficial part of the food (nutrients) is absorbed which gives us energy. Our digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The gastrointestinal tract is also called the GI tract. The GI tract consists of different organs which are hollow and connect each other from the mouth to the anus. The organs in the order in which they are connected from the mouth to the anus are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. There are many functions of the digestive system that we will talk about later in the article.
The digestive system is made in such a way that it can do its job of turning food into nutrients and energy for us. After absorbing the useful parts of the food, it filters the unnecessary part of it which is solid waste, or stool for disposal so that we can have a good bowel movement.
Functions of the Digestive System
The functions of the digestive system with diagram are as follows:
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Motility and Locomotion
The food that we eat moves through the digestive tract, the process is known as peristalsis. It is the movement of the GI tract that further moves the food through the digestive system.
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Secretion
Secretion is the process of releasing hormones, enzymes, and other substances which can help the body in digesting food. The hormones usually tell the body when to produce digestive juices and it even sends signals to the brain when you are hungry or full.
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Digestion
This is one of the basic functions of the digestive system. The ingested nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, fats, and water are reduced into smaller particles that are smaller enough to pass through the lining of the gut and then enter the bloodstream. The digestive system breaks down the foods that we consume so that we can use them for energy, growth of our body, repair of the cells. The proteins break down into amino acids, the carbohydrates break down into simple sugar and the fats of our body break down into fatty acids and glycerol,
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Absorption
The digested nutrients pass from the gut into the lymph system so that it can pass the nutrients to the rest of the body. The lymph system carries vitamins and fatty acids, while the blood carries simple sugars, amino acids, glycerol, and some vitamins and salts to the liver.
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Defection
Defection, which is also known as bowel movement, is the process of eliminating the solid wastes, stools from the body.
Conditions that Can Affect the Functions of the Digestive System
Many health conditions can affect the functions of the digestive system. The conditions might be temporary, long-term, or chronic. Some basic conditions are mild and are not that dangerous but if you are suffering from a serious digestive issue medical attention is very much needed.
Some of the common conditions that can affect the functions of the digestive system are as follows:
- Diarrhea- Diarrhea is a condition when you are suffering from loose or watery poop. Many things can cause diarrhea such as bacteria but most of the time it can be unknown.
- Constipation- Constipation is a condition when you poop less than usual and your poop is dry and hard and it becomes pretty difficult and painful for the poop to pass.
- Gallstones- Gallstones are usually small pieces of solid material that are formed by digestive liquids, and it forms in your gallbladder (a small organ under the liver).
- Cancer- Cancers that can affect tissues and organs in the digestive system are known as gastrointestinal cancer. The most common digestive system cancer is liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, rectum cancer.
- Ulcers- An ulcer is normally a sore that develops on the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine.
How to Keep Digestive System Healthy
If you have a medical condition, don’t forget to ask your healthcare supplier to inform you about what you should do and what you should eat to keep your digestive system healthy.
Some of the ways to keep your digestive system healthy are as follows:
- Consume a balanced diet- You must eat fruits and vegetables every day. You must avoid processed wheat and only consume whole wheat, in general, you should avoid consuming processed food. Try to consume poultry(egg) and fish over red meat.
- Exercise- Physical activity can help in moving the food through your digestive system effortlessly. Going for a walk after a meal is a very good exercise.
- No smoking and avoid alcohol- Alcohol can increase the amount of acid in the intestine, which can further cause heartburn and stomach ulcers. Smoking can double the risk of you having acid reflux.
- Manage Stress- You should manage your stress properly as stress can impact your digestive system and can cause constipation and diarrhea.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, the food that we eat makes an incredible journey through our body from the upper portion (our mouth) to the lower portion (our anus). Our digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The gastrointestinal tract is also called the GI tract. The GI tract consists of different organs which are hollow and connect each other from the mouth to the anus. The organs in the order in which they are connected from the mouth to the anus are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. The most basic function of the digestive system is digestion.
If you have a medical condition, don’t forget to ask your healthcare supplier to inform you about what you should do and what you should eat to keep your digestive system healthy. One of them is ulcers, which are normally a sore that develops on the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. If you have a medical condition, don’t forget to ask your healthcare supplier to inform you about what you should do and what you should eat to keep your digestive system healthy. You can keep your digestive system healthy by staying away from alcohol/smoking, managing your stress.