Digestion : The Real Facts About Your Digestive System

     Digestion is the process of breaking down food into molecules small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream for use by the body. It occurs in both animals and plants. The digestive tract includes the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and intestines. It is a long tube-like organ with highly specialized functions. Digestion begins in the mouth where saliva starts the breakdown of food into smaller particles that move to the stomach. There, gastric juice breaks down more proteins, carbohydrates, and fats into smaller structures which pass through a membrane called a mucous membrane to be absorbed in the small intestine.

The Digestive System :

     The digestive system is made up of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. The organs that make up the digestive system include the mouth, pharynx and esophagus. The tongue helps to break down food and mix it with saliva for digestion in the mouth. The esophagus carries food from the throat to the stomach. The stomach churns food into a liquid called chyme which then travels through a tube called a pyloric sphincter to the small intestine where it releases enzymes that break down more complex molecules into smaller molecules like glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. The large intestine absorbs water and moves anything that has been absorbed to the rectum. This can be accomplished by muscular contractions or by absorption into special cells on its wall called colonocytes.

The Mouth :

The mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract, where food enters and teeth masticate. The mouth is divided into three sections: the oral cavity, the lips, and the roof of the mouth. There are five types of teeth in each section: four incisors, two canines, and one premolar. The tongue exerts pressure on food in the mouth during mastication. Saliva starts digestion by breaking down large particles into small ones while it also moistens food to make it easier to swallow.

The Esophagus :

     There are two primary organs involved in the process of digestion. The first is the mouth and throat, which begin the physical breakdown of food into smaller particles before it moves to the stomach. The second is the stomach and intestines, which start to break down food into molecules small enough to be absorbed by cells in the intestine. The esophagus is a slender tube that acts as a passageway from one side of your throat to your stomach. It's also called a windpipe or respiratory pipe because it connects your lungs with your digestive tract.

     The esophagus plays an important role in digestion because when you eat, saliva from glands near the back of your mouth starts breaking down large pieces of food into smaller pieces that can be swallowed better. The saliva mixes with gastric juice that comes from glands near your stomach's lining to form chyme (pronounced: kime). This substance is what gets pushed out of your stomach through a sphincter valve called an Oesophageal Sphincter into a somewhat more acidic environment in order to begin breaking down proteins and fats more easily.

Stomach :

     The stomach's main function is to churn and mix food that has been swallowed into a thick, semi-liquid substance called chyme. The contents are then sent to the small intestine where they are further broken down by enzymes and acids produced in the pancreas and liver. 

     Remember this? You may have heard that high amounts of stomach acid can cause serious damage to the lining of your stomach, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, there is no such thing as too much stomach acid. It's produced in order to digest food and is crucial for health. Without any digestive juices, your body would be unable to break down food due to the lack of enzymes and acids necessary. If you think you have too much stomach acid, talk with your doctor about what might be causing it or why it might be happening.

Small Intestine :

     The small intestine has three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. It absorbs nutrients, electrolytes, water, vitamins and minerals before they enter the large intestine. The small intestine also produces enzymes that digest food and convert it into chyme (which is a substance consisting of partially digested food with water).

     It is important to note that the digestive system can be affected by many factors such as age, diet, or stress. The digestive system can be healthy when problems arise such as malnutrition or constipation.