HUMAN DIGESTION
The digestive system of the human body is a collection of organs that work together to transform food matter into energy. The gastrointestinal tract, as well as ancillary organs That includes the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder, Contribute to the digestive system anatomically. The mouth, stomach, oesophagus, small intestine, and large intestine, that contains the rectum and anus, are the hollow organs that contribute to the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract).
The human digestive system and nutrition are concerned with an organism’s food intake and energy consumption. This is an important process that allows living beings to receive energy from a variety of sources. Before the nutrients
of the food we eat are used to generate energy, it goes through a lot of processing. Digestion is the term for this procedure. For this procedure, humans and animals have specific organ sets and systems.
The alimentary canal, as well as many ancillary organs and organ systems, are all involved in the digesting process. Due to our monogastric nature, the process is fairly straightforward in humans. This means we have a single-chambered stomach, as opposed to the four-chambered stomach seen in other animals such as cows.
Some components of the neurological and circulatory systems are also involved in the digestive process. Digestion is completed by a combination of neurons, bacteria, hormones, blood, and other digestive system components.
PARTS OF HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
The digestive system of the human body is made up of a collection of organs that work together to transform food into energy and other essential nutrients. The food we eat is digested and absorbed easily by our bodies, with the leftovers being defecated.
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT; sometimes known as the alimentary canal) and ancillary organs make up the human digestive system (tongue, liver, pancreas, etc.). These two components work together to aid digestion.
The alimentary canal is a long tube that the food we eat passes through. It starts in the mouth (buccal or oral cavity), continues via the pharynx, oesophagus or food pipe, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, rectum, and finishes in the anus. As the food particles goes through the different compartments of the alimentary canal, they are eventually digested.
Accessory organs are organs that help with digestion but aren’t part of the gastrointestinal tract. They stimulate digestion by releasing enzymes that aid in the digestion of meals.
Let’s take a closer look at the human digestive system, including its components and functions:
MOUTH:- The mouth, or the oral cavity, is where food begins its journey. The teeth, salivary glands, and tongue are just a few of the additional organs that help with digestion. Food particles are ground into little pieces by teeth, which are moistened with saliva before being pushed into the pharynx by the tongue.
PHARYNX:- A fibromuscular y-shaped tube connected to the mouth’s terminal end. It is primarily responsible for the transit of chewed or crushed food from the mouth to the oesophagus. It also plays an important role in the respiratory system, as air passes from the nasal cavity to the lungs via the pharynx.
OESOPHAGUS:-This is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx, which is part of the upper gastrointestinal system, to the upper end of stomach. It provides swallowed meals as well as length.
STOMACH:-
It is a muscular bag that is located beneath the diaphragm on the left side of the abdominal cavity. This essential organ stores food and allows enough time for meals to be digested. Digestion is also usually influenced by the stomach’s production of digestive juices and hydrochloric acid.
The mucous membranes secrete an aqueous fluid called mucous. It works by shielding the stomach lining and gastric pits from the acid produced by the glands to kill bacteria that have entered with the meal particles.
Digestive enzymes are a class of enzymes that work by breaking down polymeric macromolecules like biopolymers into smaller, simpler components.
The digestive fluid generated by the stomach during the digestion process is hydrochloric acid. It works by killing dangerous germs that are contained in food particles.
SMALL – INTESTINE:-
The small intestine is a long, thin tube that runs through the lower gastrointestinal tract and is around 10 feet long. It is located right behind the stomach and takes up the largest portion of the abdominal cavity. The entire small intestine is coiled, with folds and ridges on the inner surface.
LARGE-INTESTINE:-
This is a thick, long tube that is around 5 feet long. It’s found right beneath the stomach and wraps around the small intestine’s superior and lateral margins. It absorbs water and contains symbiotic bacteria that aid in the breakdown of wastes in order to obtain tiny nutrients.
RECTUM:-
Waste products are excreted from the body through the rectum, which is the end of the large intestine. Stool is the solid substance that is excreted through the rectum. Through the process of defecation, it is stored in the rectum as semi-solid faeces, which is then expelled from the body through the anal canal.
Process of Digestion
In humans, the digestive process begins in the mouth and ends in the small intestine; the large intestines’ primary job is to absorb any remaining water from the undigested meal and to provide an environment for bacterial fermentation of components that cannot be digested anymore.
When you think about it, the alimentary canal, also known as the gastrointestinal tract, is a network of hollow organs and tubes that starts in your mouth cavity and continues into your pharynx, stomach, small intestines, and finally ends at your anus. As food particles pass through the various compartments of the gastrointestinal tract, they begin to be digested more thoroughly.
The digestion process is divided into the following steps.
Ingestion
Mastication is the very first phase in the process (chewing). The salivary glands, in conjunction with the tongue, assist in moistening and lubricating food before it is pushed down into the food pipe by the digestive system.
Movement and a blending of styles
This procedure involves lubricating and modifying food before forcing it down the food pipe (using peristalsis) and into the stomach to complete the digestion process.
Secretion
A variety of enzymes and acids are secreted by the stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas to aid in the digestion process. It works by breaking down food particles into simple components that may be easily absorbed and assimilated by the body.
Digestion
The process by which complex food particles are broken down into simpler components in the presence of enzymes and acids generated by various digestive organs is called digestion.
Absorption
The small intestine is where the majority of the nutrients and minerals are absorbed, thus this is where the process starts. The large intestine is responsible for absorbing the excess water found in indigestible materials.
Excretion
This term refers to the process of eliminating indigestible substances and waste by-products from one’s body through defecation.
Disorders of the Digestive System in the Human
Vomiting is defined as the ejection of stomach contents through the mouth (also known as vomiting).
Diarrhoea is characterised by an abnormally watery bowel movement. When diarrhoea persists for an extended period of time, dehydration occurs.
Congestion (constipation): A condition in which the faeces are trapped within the rectum as a result of an irregular bowel movement.
The term “indigestion” refers to stomach pain or discomfort that occurs when food is not fully digested, resulting in a feeling of being overstuffed. Indigestion is primarily caused by insufficient enzyme secretion, food poisoning, anxiety, overeating, and consuming hot foods.
The Digestive System of the Human Body has several functions.
The digestive system is responsible for the two primary activities of digestion and absorption.
It is required for digestion to occur in order for food particles to be broken down into nutrients that may be used by the body as an energy source, cell repair, and growth.
Before food and drink can be absorbed by the bloodstream and transported to the cells throughout the body, they must first be broken down into smaller molecules of nutrients. The nutrients in beverages and food are broken down by the body into carbohydrate, vitamin, fat, and protein components, respectively.
CONCLUSION:-
The digestive system begins to function as soon as the food is brought close to the lips and swallowed. The numerous organs collaborate to keep this machine running well. The actions of the internal organs are controlled by the nerves and hormones in the body. It is possible to have both mechanical and chemical processes working simultaneously in order to digest food and produce energy to the body. All of the phases in this procedure are required and crucial in order for this equipment to operate in a safe and efficient manner.