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Date Submitted: 10/17/2011 09:42 AM
Human Digestion
Sci/241
July 5, 2011
Khanh Nguyen
Digestion is the process of breaking food down for absorption. Proteins, carbohydrates, fats,
and other nutrients are broken down and used in the body. Food passes through the digestive
system first in the mouth where it is grinded into small pieces by the teeth and mixed with salvia
and digestion begins. Food moves into the pharnax which in turns, leads food to the esophagus.
The esophagus is a tube that food follows to the stomach. It uses muscle constrictions to move
food along the esophagus while secreting a mucus to lubricate food to the stomach.
Once inside the stomach, muscle surrounding the outside of the stomach start to churn the
food inside. The stomach contains hydrochloric acid ,which kills bacteria, and the stomach also
produces pepsin, an enzyme, used to help digest proteins. "The stomach also secretes a mucus to
protect itself from being digested by its own acids and enzymes". (Carter, 1996) After leaving
the stomach food enters the small intestine.
Because of the size of the small intestine absorption of nutrients is more likely to occur here.
Secretions from the small intestine help in digesting carbohydrates and fats. Other organs like
the pancreas, liver, and gall bladder secrete chemicals into the small intestine to help in the
breaking down of food for absorption. Food then travels to the large intestine.
The large intestine reabsorbs the water and other nutrients that the body has not absorbed. In
the large intestine the bacteria is produced to help in the final breaking down of food. Food is
broken down into waste which is stored in the rectum until eliminated.
References
Carter, J. (1996). Digestive System. Retrieved from http://Biology.clc.uc.edu