Creative Modeling of Structure and Function of DigestionThe Digestive System: Anatomy and Physiology

Purpose: To understand the length of the various portions of the digestive tract To understand the function of the various structures of the digestive tract To understand that the structure of the digestive system DICTATES the function of the

digestive system.

Table 1: Length (cm) and basic function of the organs/parts of the Digestive Tract. Attached this table onto poster.

Digestive Organ/Part(NOT in

order)

Length in cm

Color code each part/organ

Basic (few word) Function

Ascending colon 15Cardiac Sphincter -Jejunum 191Oral Cavity 11Pylorus -Ileum 216Ileo-cecal Sphincter -Esophagus 25Rectum 12Epiglottis -Fundus 9Duodenum 13Transverse colon 50Anal canal 4Stomach (body) 22Sigmoid colon 40Cecum 6Descending colon 25Pyloric Sphincter -

Table 2: Secretions of the Human Digestive SystemOrgan/Anatomical Structure Secreted ProductSublingual gland, submandibular glad, parotid gland all make saliva (Mouth)

Amylase

Stomach HCl, pepsin, amylase, lipaseGall Bladder Storage of bile saltsLiver Bile saltsPancreas Amylase, lipase, protease (all pancreatic

enzymes)Duodenum of Small Intestine Entry site of Pancreatic enzymes and bile salts

from the gall bladderJejunum of Small Intestine Nucleases, maltase, lactase, sucrose,

exopeptidases (proteases) dipeptidases

Directions: Using the table above of the various parts/organs of the digestive, create a poster of a Homo sapien showing the CORRECT order of the digestive system, from start to finish.

1. Create an outline of a Homo sapien on your poster paper. You will be organizing the lengthy digestive system inside this person in the correct order.

2. Determine the order of the organs/parts of the digestive tract.

3. Select colors to represent parts of the digestive tract and mark these colors on your table. The table will be cut and pasted neatly on your poster so ensure your work is neat.

4. Using the chart above, measure out a length of string for each organ/part of the digestive tract. Start the digestive tract at its start, for example, the mouth is about 11cm long, so use a marker to color code the first 11 cm of the string the color you selected to represent the mouth. Continue marking the string to represent the length of each part/organ of the digestive tract.

5. Research the function of each organ/part of the digestive tract. This should be high school level work. You may make bullet points or sentences to explain the function. Be sure to include the secretions as listed in table 2 where they belong.

6. Neatly attached onto the poster the function of each part/organ and draw a line connecting the written function to the organ/part of the digestive tract.

7. Sketch an intestinal villus next to the Small Intestine and label its parts. Bullet point what the villi does that makes it so important (textbook page 283)

8. Attached the micrographs you have been given to the appropriate place on your poster. Label the parts of the micrographs as much as you can.