THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

By: Isabelle C., Haley S., Christine G., and Jordan W.

Functions of the Digestive System

There are two types of ways that your body digests food: Chemical Digestion is when your body uses chemical reactions to break down pieces of food into small molecules. One example of this type of digestion is your stomach acids breaking down food.

Mechanical Digestion is when your body physically breaks down food, also, into smaller molecules. One example of this type of digestion is when you are chewing your food.

Major Parts: Tongue

The tongue is the part of the digestive system that tastes the food. It helps move the food from your mouth and down through your esophagus. The salivary glands produce the saliva that helps break down your food while it’s in your mouth.

Major Parts: Esophagus

The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. Food moves through the esophagus and the rest of the digestive tract by waves of muscular contractions called peristalsis.

Major Parts : Stomach

The stomach is a large hallow organ in the digestive system. One thing that the stomach does is storing food. This is what allows you to go hours between each meal. Also, stomach acids work to further break down food.

Major Parts : Small Intestine

The small intestine is where most chemical digestion occurs. Recall that chemical digestion is using chemical reactions to break down food. The small intestine is connected to the stomach.

Major Parts : Large Intestine

The large intestine is 1.5 meters long. The materials that pass through the large intestine are the waste products of digestion. When liquids pass through the large intestine it collects the water that the small intestine missed.

Interactions With the Circulatory and Excretory Systems

The Digestive System interacts with the circulatory system by making the nutrients needed for the red blood cells.

The Digestive System interacts with the Excretory System because when the Digestive System is done getting the nutrients it gets rid of the waste by passing it to the Excretory System.

Role In Maintaining Homeostasis

The nutrients the digestive system collects is necessary for other body parts to function properly and maintain homeostasis.

Health

Ways your digestive system stays healthy:

o Eat healthy foodso Be activeoHave a balanced diet

Fun Facts

• Bacteria with digestion is a new field of research.

• An adult stomach can hold up to about 2 liters of food and liquid.

• The large intestine is smaller than the small intestine in length.