Digestive System Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Digestive System?
The digestive system is an organ system that takes in food, breaks it down, and turns it into energy and waste products. It consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum and anus. The main function of the digestive system is to break down food into smaller molecules so they can be absorbed by the body. It also helps to remove toxins from the body as well as providing essential vitamins and minerals. The process of digestion begins in the mouth with chewing and salivation. Chewing mechanically breaks down food while salivary enzymes help to begin breaking down carbohydrates. The bolus (partially broken-down food) then moves through the esophagus by means of a wave-like motion called peristalsis until it reaches the stomach where further digestion occurs. In the stomach gastric juices are secreted which contain enzymes that breakdown proteins as well as hydrochloric acid which kills bacteria ingested with food. From here partially digested material moves on to the small intestine where most nutrients are absorbed before passing into large intestine for further processing and absorption of water/electrolytes before being eliminated as feces from anus at end of process. The large intestine also houses beneficial bacteria which aid in digesting certain carbohydrates such as fiber among other things.