Digestive System Phases

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Phases of our Digestive System |

Digestive system |

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Danielle |

10/2/2011 |

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Phases of our digestive system

When it comes to talking about the digestion system there are many steps in making this process happen. The phases that it goes through start out in the mouth and throat, then moving on to the stomach, finally going through the intestines. Each part of this system plays an important role in achieving the full process of digesting.

First, we will talk about the mouth and throat phase. In this phase, the components that are involved are mouth, tongue, salivary glands, pharynx, epiglottis and esophagus. Salivary glands start the digestive process at the smell and sight of the food. Food then enters the mouth. Teeth into smaller pieces while mixing with the saliva then break it down. This process turns it into what is call bolus. The bolus then will go to and through the pharynx on to the esophagus leading to the stomach, traveling 5 inches and 1foot in a matter of minutes.

Once the bolus reaches the stomach, it then has one foot to process through taking about 2-6 hours. During this time, it would be coming from the esophagus entering the stomach, where it then is mixed to what we call semi-liquid mass chyme. From here, the chyme is emptied into the small intestine.

When emptied to the intestines phase, a few components help this phase process. Components are as followed; small intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, large intestine and anus. This phase takes about 3-24 hours to achieve full digestion and bout 20-25 feet in distance. When in the small intestine, extra secretions from the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas minister to the digestive progression. The components of chyme not absorbed in the small intestine move into the large intestine, then the colon, and are then eliminated from the body in the feces.

All of these steps are what our digestive system rely on when performing this daily function of the body. It is...