Explain the whole process of digestion in human ? Briefly?
Answers
The human digestive system consists of organs that help in converting food molecules into energy and other basic nutrients which are essential for life. In humans, the process is quite simple due to our monogastric nature. This means that we have a one-chambered stomach, unlike other animals such as cows, which have four chambers.
Digestion Process
The process of digestion begins from the mouth and ends in the small intestine – the large intestines’ main function is to absorb the remaining water from the undigested food and enable bacterial fermentation of materials that can no longer be digested.
The alimentary canal or the gastrointestinal tract is a series of hollow organs and tubes that begins from the mouth cavity and continues into the pharynx, through the stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and finally ending at the anus.
Food particles get digested gradually as they travel through various compartments of the gastrointestinal tract. It has six steps, which are as follows:
Ingestion
The very first step involves mastication (chewing). The salivary glands, along with the tongue helps to moisten and lubricate food, before being pushed down into the food pipe.
Mixing and movement
It involves the process of lubricating and manipulating food and pushing it down the food through the food pipe (using peristalsis), and into the stomach.
Secretion
The stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas secrete enzymes and acids to aid the process of digestion. It functions by breaking down food particles into simple components and easily absorbable components.
Digestion
The process of converting complex food particles into simpler substances in the presence of enzymes and acids secreted by different digestive organs.
Absorption
This process begins in the small intestine where most of the nutrients and minerals are absorbed. The excess water in the indigestible matter is absorbed by the large intestines.
Excretion
The process of removing indigestible substances and waste by-products from the body through the process of defecation.
Mouth
The mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract. In fact, digestion starts here as soon as you take the first bite of a meal. saliva mixes with food to begin the process of breaking it down into a form your body can absorb and use. From here, food travels to the esophagus or swallowing tube.
The stomach secretes acid and powerful enzymes that continue the process of breaking down the food. The small intestine continues the process of breaking down food by using enzymes released by the pancreas and bile from the liver. Bile is a compound that aids in the digestion of fat and eliminates waste products from the blood. Peristalsis (contractions) is also at work in this organ, moving food through and mixing it up with digestive secretions. The duodenum is largely responsible for continuing the process of breaking down food, with the jejunum and ileum being mainly responsible for the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.
the oblong pancreas secretes enzymes into the small intestine. These enzymes break down the food we eat.