Chapter 17

Digestive and Urinary Systems

The Digestive System

Lesson 1

Digestion

The mechanical and chemical breakdown of foods for use by the body’s cells

Absorption The passage of digested food from the digestive

tract into the cardiovascular system Elimination

The expulsion of undigested food or body wastes

Functions of the Digestive System

Digestion involves both mechanical and

chemical processes Mechanical- chewing, mashing, and breaking

food into smaller pieces. Chemical- Digestive juices change the food into

simpler substances. The nervous system triggers the digestive

process to begin at the sight or smell of food and controls muscles involved with digestion.

The cardiovascular system moves the nutrients to the cells of the body.

Functions of the Digestive System

Ingestion is the process of taking food into the

body, 3 Primary Structures involved:

Teeth- Breaks the food into smaller pieces by chewing, or mastication, which prepares food to be swallowed.

Salivary glands- Produces saliva which aids in breakdown of starches and sugars in food. It also helps lubricate food, making it easier to swallow.

Tongue- Forms chewed food into size and shape that can be swallowed.

Ingestion

As you swallow,

muscular contractions force food into the throat (pharynx).

The Uvula, which is a small flap in the back of the throat closes the nasal passage.

The epiglottis, another small flap, closes the opening to the trachea (windpipe) to prevent food from entering the respiratory system.

Swallowing

When food is swallowed, it moves into the

esophagus, which is a muscular tube that extends about 10 inches from the pharynx to the stomach.

Food moves through the esophagus, stomach, and intestines through a series of rhythmic, wavelike muscular contractions called peristalsis.

The esophageal sphincter sits at the junction of the stomach and esophagus and allows food to enter the stomach.

The Esophagus

The stomach is a hollow, saclike organ that is enclosed

in a muscular wall. These muscles allow the stomach to expand when you eat.

The Stomach has 3 tasks in digestion: Mixing foods with gastric juices

Gastric juices are secretions from the stomach lining that contain acid and peptin, which helps break down protein. Mucus in the stomach lining prevent the strong acids from digesting the stomach.

Storing swallowed food and fluids The stomach holds food and liquid for further digestion

before they move into the small intestine Moving food into the small intestine

As food is digested, it is converted to chyme, which is a creamy, fluid mixture of food and gastric juices.

The Stomach

Pancreas- Produces enzymes that break down

fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in food. Liver- Produces bile, a yellow-green, bitter

fluid important in the breakdown and absorption of fats.

Gallbladder- Stores bile in times between meals.

These fluids mix with other digestive juices and chyme in the small intestine.

The Pancreas, Liver, & Gallbladder

About 23- 23 feet in length and 1 inch in

diameter. The inner wall of the small intestine contains

millions of fingerlike projections called villi. These villi contain capillaries that collect

nutrients and carry them throughout the body through the cardiovascular system.

Undigested material leaves the small intestine and enters the large intestine through peristalsis.

The Small Intestine

The large intestine is about 5 to 6 feet in

length and about 2.5 inches in diameter. It’s main functions are to absorb water,

vitamins, and salts, and to eliminate wastes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm3oIX6jjn4

The Large Intestine

The body produces wastes in the forms of solids, liquids,

and gasses. Solid wastes are removed through the large intestine

where bacteria convert the undigested food materials into a semisolid mass called feces. Feces are excreted through the anus during a bowel movement.

The skin excretes some wastes through the pores by perspiration.

The lungs expel carbon dioxide, a gaseous waste when you breathe.

Liquid wastes are filtered through the urinary system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b20VRR9C37Q

Removing Wastes From the Body

Care and Problems of the Digestive

System

Lesson 2

These behaviors will help lead to a lifetime

free of digestive problems: Eat a well balanced diet Wash your hands before and after preparing

food Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly Drink at least 8 8oz. Glasses of water daily Avoid using food as a way of dealing with stress

and emotion

Health Behaviors and the Digestive System

Can range from minor discomfort caused by

gas or indigestion to more serious problems that need immediate medical attention such as appendicitis

Problems can either be Functional or Structural

Problems of the Digestive System

Indigestion

Feeling of discomfort in the upper abdomen. Can be accompanied by gas and nausea Can be caused by eating too much, eating too quickly, &

spicy foods that are high in fat. Stomach orders and stress can lead to indigestion

Heartburn Burning sensation in the center of the chest that may

rise from the tip of the breastbone up to the throat. Results from acid reflux, or backflow of stomach acid

into the esophagus. As acid enters the esophagus, it irritates the tissues,

causing a burning sensation

Functional Problems of the Digestive

System

Hiatal Hernia

Condition in which part of the stomach pushes through an opening in the diaphragm.

Persistent heartburn can be a symptom of hiatal hernia. Gas

Certain amounts of gas are considered normal. Excessive gas can result in cramps or uncomfortable

feelings of fullness. Certain foods may cause excess gas in some people, but not

in others. Constipation

Condition in which feces become dry and hard and bowel movements become difficult.

Can be caused by not getting enough fiber or water.

Functional Problems of the Digestive

System

Nausea

Feeling of discomfort that sometimes precedes vomiting. Caused by motion sickness, pathogens, some medications,

and dehydration. Vomiting is a reflex in which the contents of the stomach

are brought back up the esophagus and out of the mouth. This is caused by powerful muscular contractions in the stomach.

Diarrhea Frequent passage of watery feces. Occurs when digested food passes too quickly through the

large intestine Can be cause by changes in eating style, overeating,

pathogens, or nutritional deficiencies. Large concern is dehydration.

Functional Problems of the Digestive

System

Gallstones

Formed when cholesterol in bile crystalizes and blocks the bile duct between the small intestine and gallbladder.

Symptoms include pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever Can be treated with medication, ultrasound or surgery.

Appendicitis Inflammation of the appendix Symptoms include pain, fever, loss of appetite, nausea,

vomiting, and tenderness in the area. Can be a very serious problem if the appendix bursts Treatment includes surgical removal of the appendix.

Structural Problems of the Digestive

System

Gastritis

Inflammation of the mucus membrane that lines the stomach.

Caused by use of tobacco or alcohol, infection, and certain medications (aspirin)

Symptoms include pain, indigestion, decreased appetite, & nausea and vomiting.

Lactose Intolerance Cause by underproduction of enzyme Lactase, which aids in

breaking down dairy products. Bacteria in the small intestine ferment and cause symptoms

of abdominal cramps, bloating , gas, and diarrhea. People with lactose intolerance should avoid dairy products

and switch to alternate sources of calcium.

Structural Problems of the Digestive

System

Peptic Ulcer

A sore in the lining of the digestive tract Can be caused by regular use of medications (aspirin), or by

infection Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that

worsens when the stomach is empty. Cirrhosis

Destruction of liver tissue, usually caused by prolonged and heavy alcohol use.

Can lead to total liver failure and death unless a liver transplant is performed.

Crohn’s Disease Causes inflammation of the linin of the digestive tract. Symptoms include diarrhea, weight loss, fever, and abdominal

pain. No known cause but has been thought to have stemmed from

immune disorders

Structural Problems of the Digestive

System

Colon Cancer

Second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States Usually develops in the rectum and blocks the colon or causes

bleeding with elimination. Slow spreading- early medical help yields much higher survival

rates. Colitis

Inflammation of large intestine or colon May be caused by bacterial or viral infection Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea that

may contain blood Hemorrhoids

Veins in the rectum and anus that are swollen as a result of increased pressure.

May occur with constipation, during pregnancy, and after childbirth

Symptoms include itching, pain, and bleeding

Structural Problems of the Digestive

System

The Urinary System

Lesson 3

Main function is to filter waste and extra fluid

from the body. Urine is liquid waste material excreted from

the body through the process of urination. Urine consists of water and body wastes that

contain nitrogen. These wastes become toxic to the cells if they

remain in the body for too long.

Function of the Urinary System

Bean shaped organs that are about

the size of a fist near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage.

Remove waste products from the blood through tiny filtering units called nephrons.

Each kidney contains millions of nephrons.

Each nephrons contains a small ball of capillaries called a glomerulus and a small tube called a renal tubule that functions as a filtering funnel.

As part of the filtering process, the kidneys adjust the amount of salt, water, and other materials excreted in the urine according to the body’s needs.

They monitor and maintain the body’s acid-base and water balances.

The Kidneys

The ureters are tubes that connect the kidneys

to the bladder. Each ureter is about 8-10 inches long Muscles in the ureter walls tighten and relax

to force urine down and away from the kidneys

Some amount of urine is passed from the ureters and the bladder every 15 seconds.

The Ureters

The bladder is a hollow muscular organ that

acts as a reservoir for urine. Located in the pelvic cavity, the bladder is

held in place by ligaments attached to other organs and the pelvic bones.

Until the bladder is ready to be emptied, sphincter muscles close tightly around the opening into the urethra. The urethra is the tube that leads from the

bladder to the outside of the body

The Bladder and the Urethra

Drink at least 8 8oz. Glasses of water each day

Limit the amount of caffeine and soft drinks as they can lead to dehydration

Eat a well balanced diet Practice good hygiene and personal health to

avoid bacterial infection Have regular medical check-ups.

Report any changes in color, odor, or frequency of urine elimination to a doctor as they can be warning signs of urinary system disorders

Healthy Behaviors and the Urinary

System

Can result from several different conditions,

including infection or blockage of urine. Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, most

often caused by bacterial infection, which can spread to the kidneys

Urethritis is the inflammation of the urethra that can be caused by a bacterial infection.

Symptoms of both can include burning pain during urination, increase frequency of urination, fever, and the presence of blood in the urine.

Problems of the Urinary System

Nephritis

Inflammation of the nephrons. Symptoms include fever, tissue swelling, and changes in urine production

Kidney Stones Form when salts in the urine crystallize into stones.

Small stones can normally pass naturally but larger ones my need ultrasound treatment in order to break them into small pieces.

Uremia Associated with decreased blood filtration by the

kidneys. Leads to abnormally high concentrations of nitrogen which can cause tissue damage.

Kidney Problems

Can be acute or chronic. Treatment includes

reducing symptoms and slowing progression. Hemodialysis

Technique in which an artificial kidney machine removes waste products from the blood.

Peritoneal dialysis Uses a thin membrane that surrounds the

digestive organs to filter blood. Kidney transplant

Involves replacing non-functional kidney with healthy kidney from a donor.

Kidney Failure