THE DIGESTIVE

SYSTEM
FUNCTIONS
BIOLOGY 12
LAST DAYS NUGGETS
Macromolecule Enzyme Where it is made Where it acts What is does

Carb

Nucleic Acid

Protein

Lipid
LAST DAYS NUGGETS
HORMONE Where it is What turns it on What is does
made
Gastrin
Secretin
Gastric Inhibitor
Peptide
Cholecytokinin
Leptin
Grehlin
Insulin
Glucagon
THE MOUTH
• Mouth uses both mechanical (physical) and
chemical digestion to start the process
• Mastication – chewing by teeth
• Salivary glands add water and salivary amylase to
bolus of food
• Salivary amylase starts digestion of starch
• Uvula and soft palate help with swallowing and
covers the nasal cavity so that fluids do not go
wrong way
SALIVARY GLANDS
• Each gland comes in a pair
• Parotid s.g. secretes the most salivary amylase to
help carbohydrate digestion
• Saliva is 99% water and 1% protein and salts
• Saliva pH ~ 6.5
• Acts as a solvent for food, and helps soften bolus
for swallowing
PHARYNX AND EPIGLOTTIS

• Epiglottis covers the trachea to prevent food from

entering lungs
• Pharynx part of BOTH digestive and respiratory
systems
ESOPHAGUS
• Lining of the esophagus is stratified squamous
epithelial tissue with additional smooth muscle
layers
• Peristalsis is muscle contractions that push food
down towards stomach
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) when
burning of esophageal tissues due to stomach
acid
• Average adult length 10 inches
STOMACH • When expanded can hold 1 litre of food or liquid
• 3 parts
• Cardiac – contains mucous secreting cells (close to
esophageal sphincter)
• Fundus – top, contains gastric juices
• Pyloric – secretes hormone Gastrin
• Parietal cells make HCl (pH 2.5)
• Chief cells secrete pepsinogen
• Pepsinogen + HCl  Pepsin (active enzyme that breaks
down protein)
• Food called CHYME once gastric juices added to bolus
 STOMACH

• Epithelial layer
• Mucousa
• Submucousa
• Muscularis
STOMACH
SMALL INTESTINE

• 6 meters long and 1 inch in diameter

• Duodenum – receives pancreatic juices, secrete
maltase, sucrase, lactase, peptidases
• Jejunum – where absorption of monomers take
place. Large villi to increase surface area
• Ileum – absorbs vitamin B’s and C
VILLI
• Villi are very important for
increasing surface area of the
small intestine
• Lacteal help absorb dietary
fats
• Lacteal leads to lymph
system for fat circulation
• All other monomers go directly
into blood stream
LIVER
• B – produces bile
• B – breaks down red blood cells
• B – produces blood proteins (A, B, Rh)
• B – Blood detoxification
• B – Blood sugar storage of glycogen
• U – produced urea (from ammonia)
GALL BLADDER • Stores bile(which is made in the liver)
• When given hormone signal, gall
bladder will contract and squeeze out
the bile through the cystic duct and
common bile duct, into the
duodenum
• Can be removed without long term
impact on health (may impact fat
absorption)
PANCREAS • Creates insulin and glucagon as part of the blood
sugar homeostasis
• Create pancreatic juices (SLTPNW)
• Sodium bicarbonate (neutralize HCl)
• Lipase (enzyme for lipids)
• Trypsin (2nd enzyme for protein)
• Pancreatic Amylase (2nd enzyme for starch)
• Nucleases (Enzyme for nucleic acids)
• Water
• Released into the duodenum
DUCT SYSTEM OF ACCESSORY ORGANS

• Hepatic duct takes bile from liver to gall

bladder
• Cystic duct takes bile from gall bladder to
common bile duct which drains to
duodenum
• Pancreatic duct is from pancreas to
common bile duct
• Sphincter of Oddi controls the ducts
emptying into duodenum
LARGE INTESTINE• 1.5 metres in length & 2.5 inches
thick
• Gut bacteria excrete vitamins B & K
and it is absorbed in large intestine
• Gut bacteria also produce methane
gas
• Reabsorbs water to body and helps
to create a solid waste
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM ILLNESSES
RECTUM AND ANUS
• Rectum is a continuation of the large
intestine and stored accumulating fecal
matter until ready to remove
• No villi, but many goblet cells to produce
mucous to help lubricate and form stool
• Anus is the opening that is controlled by
the anal sphincter
WHAT IS ACID REFLUX?
• HCl able to move through
esophageal sphincter
• HCl goes into esophagus and due
to lack of mucus, can damage
lining
• Sphincter muscle relaxes at the
wrong time
• Treatment – something to
neutralize acid
WHAT ARE HEMORRHOIDS?

• Swollen veins around anus (similar to

varicose veins)
• Can result from increased pressure on
vascular system or straining during
bowel movement
• Result in rectal bleeding
• Soak to prevent infections and
promote healing
WHAT ARE INTESTINAL POLYPS?

• Most polyps are harmless, but some

need to be treated to prevent irregular
growth leading to cancerous growth
• Fairly common in people over 60 years
old (25% of population)
WHAT IS AN ULCER?

• In stomach (peptic ulcer) caused by H.pylori

bacteria
• Treat with antibiotics
• In duodenum, caused by weakened pyloric
sphincter
WHAT IS CIRRHOSIS?

• Liver develops polyps and damaged

cells
• Liver dysfunction results in yellowing
of skin and whites of eyes.
• Bilirubin accumulation causes
yellowing
• Byproduct of breakdown of red
blood cells
• Caused by alcoholism and hepatitis
DIABETES

• Type 1 – pancreas Beta cells do not make

insulin. Must inject insulin in order to
allow glucose to be used in cell for ATP
production and glycogen production

• Type 2 – insulin insensitivity. Developed

usually due to obesity (but not always).
Does not allow insulin to work as gated
receptor
GALL STONES

• Gall stones can block the cystic duct and

common bile duct and prevent bile and
pancreatic juices from entering
duodenum
• Can be either cholesterol stones (yellow),
build up of cholesterol, or pigment stones
(black), build up of bilirubin from liver
• Cause a great deal of pain
CELIAC DISEASE

• Sensitivity to gluten (a protein in grain

products)
• Causes inflammation of villi
• Means the villi are too inflamed to
absorb monomers
DIVERTICULITIS

• Pockets form off large intestine

• Cause accumulation of waste in the
pockets, which can lead to inflammation
and infection
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM PROJECT
THE SCHEDULE…
The Day What to Do at School At home…
Friday Choose topic and project method
Saturday/Sunday 1 x 45 min review
1 x 45 min project
Monday Half class of project time (bring 1 x 30 min study
what you need) 1 x 30 minute project
Tuesday Half class of project time 1 x 30 min study
Practice test 1 x 30 minute project
Wednesday Test 1 x 45 minute of project
Thursday Project Due
 Wh a
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