[17] Alimentary Canal

what are the structures inside of the alimentary canal

mouth, salivary gland, tongue, esophagus, liver, gall bladder, stomach, pancreas, large intentine, small intestine, duodenum, ileum, appendix, colon, rectum, and anus

what is the function of mouth

where food is ingested and contain teeth which help to chew the food into smaller pieces - mechanical digestion

what is the function of the salivary gland

produces saliva which moistens the food and contains amylase enzyme which start to breakdown starch

what is the function of the tongue

contains taste-buds and helps to move the chewed food to the back of the mouth to be swallowed

what is the function of the oesophagus

the long tube between the mouth and the stomach through which the food passes

what is the function of the liver

makes a digestive juice called bile that neutralizes stomach acid

what is function of the stomach

attached to the bottom end of the oesophagus, the stomach wall secretes hydrochloric acid as well as pepsin which is a protease enzyme to break down proteins in food

what is the function of the gall bladder

a gland that stores bile which is made in the lvier

what is the function of the pancreas

a gland below the stomach which makes digestive enzymes that help break down food

what is the function of the small intestine

It is where most of the digestion occurs, with enzymes breaking down food into smaller molecules composed of the duodenum and ileum

what is the function of the duodenum

the first part of the small intestine leading from the stomach, food is broken down here

what is the function of the ileum

second part of the small intestine where food is absorbed

what is the function of the appendix and where are they in the alimentary canal

no function they are a small outgrowth at the start of the large intestine

what is the function of the colon and where is it

first part of the large intestine where most of the remaining water is absorbed from contents leaving a semi solid waste called faeces

what is the function of rectum and where is it

the lower part of the large intestine where faeces are stored before they leave the body

what is the function of the anus and where is it

the opening at the end of the digestive system through where faeces are egested from the body

what is ingestion?

Ingestion is the process of taking in food or drink into the body through the mouth

what is digestion

is the breakdown of food into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream

what is absorption

Absorption is the process by which digested nutrients, such as amino acids, glucose, fatty acids, and vitamins, are taken into the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine.

what is assimilation

Assimilation is the process where absorbed nutrients are transported to cells throughout the body and used for growth, energy, and repair.

what is egestion

Egestion is the removal of undigested food and waste products from the body.

how is food moved through the gut and why

Food is moved through the gut by peristalsis, which is the rhythmic contraction of muscles in the gut wall. This process helps push food along the digestive system, mixing it with digestive enzymes and bile, and allowing for the breakdown and absorption of nutrients.

what do digestive enzymes do

Digestive enzymes break down large, insoluble food molecules into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed by the body.

what enzymes breakdown starch and into what

carbohydrases into maltose

what enzyme breaks down proteins

proteases

what enzyme breaks down lipids/fats and into what

lipases into fatty acids and glycerol

what is the structure of villus and what do they do

where is bile stored and what does it do why is this helpful?

Bile, which is stored in the gall bladder, is released into the small intestine via the bile duct. The bile salts in bile act on large fat droplets, breaking them down into smaller droplets through a process called emulsification which increases the surface area of the fats, making it easier for lipase enzymes to break them down further into fatty acids and glycerol.

what is the structure of villus, what does it do?

each villus contains blood vessels and lacteal, which absorb the products of digestion. the surface cells of the villus are covered with microvilli, which further increases the surface area for efficient absorption