Structures and

Functions
of the Human
Digestive
System
FOOD IS
LIFE!
The food that we eat plays a central role in
the survival of species.

It provides the energy that enables us to

carry out the many activities that we do each
day such as breathing, walking, studying and
cooking. Food also provides the substances
needed for growth and repair of body parts.
The cells in the body need food for energy
used for growth and repair. Food must be
broken down into a form that these
microscopic cells can use.

The body changes food into a usable form

by means of a group of organs referred to as
the digestive system.
The Human Digestive System
- is composed of different
organs that work together
to break down food and
nourish the body.

It also involves important

processes to carry out the
function of the digestive
system.
Function of the Digestive System
The function of the digestive system is
digestion, the breakdown of organic
compounds into their simple forms for use
by the cells.

Digestion is the chief function of the

digestive system. It breaks down food
mechanically and chemically.
 When we eat, the
journey of the food
starts from the
mouth down to the
anus and takes
about 18-20 hours.
1. INGESTION
 INGESTION
INGESTION is the first process that happens
in the digestive system.

It is the journey of taking in food or any

substance into the body through the mouth.

The journey of food starts when a bit of

hamburger enters your mouth.
INGESTION
2. DIGESTION
 DIGESTION
DIGESTION is the second process involved in
digestive system.

It is the process that involves break down of

large food molecules into smaller molecules
for easy absorption of the cells.
 DIGESTION

Both chemical and mechanical digestion begin

immediately in the mouth.

While the food is in the mouth, the teeth cut,

crush, and break it apart into tiny pieces while
the tongue helps mix food with saliva secreted
by the salivary glands forming into a moist ball
called bolus so it can be easily swallowed.
This process is known as mastication or chewing
considered as mechanical digestion, which is
the initial stage of digestion.
 DIGESTION
The saliva contains salivary amylase,
the enzyme that breaks down starch
into smaller carbohydrates.

Then, the bolus passes from the mouth

to the esophagus - a tube that attaches
the mouth to the stomach.
 DIGESTION
A series of wave-like
muscle contractions
known as peristalsis
push and transport
foods and liquids in
small sections to the
stomach.
 The Stomach
The stomach is
a J-shaped,
bag-like
muscular organ
that can hold
approximately
one liter of fluid
and food.
 The Stomach
The primary function of the stomach is to store food,
which turns to chyme after being acted on by the
stomach acid. Chyme is a semifluid material formed
from bolus that is acted upon by the gastric juices
secreted by the stomach.

The walls of the stomach have special cells that

secrete gastric juices like hydrochloric acid and pepsin
that begin the chemical breakdown of proteins.
 The Small Intestine
The small intestine is an
organ that breaks down
food further into
substances, such as
glucose, that can be
absorbed by the villi. It
has three parts namely
the duodenum, the
jejunum, and ileum.
 The Small Intestine

The duodenum is the first and shortest part

of the small intestine. It is in charge for the
continuous breaking-down process as it
partially receives the chyme from the
stomach, it resumes chemical digestion of
food and prepares for absorption through
the villi.
Intestinal Villi
3. ABSORPTION
 Absorption
Absorption is the process of passing the
soluble food molecules in the wall of the
small intestine through the villi – the tiny,
finger-like projections from the epithelial
lining of the intestinal wall.
Intestinal Villi
 Absorption
Each villus contains blood capillaries that
enable it to absorb water, glucose, amino
acids, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.

It also increases the amount of surface

area available for the absorption of
nutrients.
4. ASSIMILATION
 Assimilation
Assimilation is the fourth process that occurs
in the digestive system.

It is the movement of digested food

nutrients into the blood vessels of the small
intestine through diffusion and use of nutrients
into the body cells through the microvilli
(microscopic cellular membrane projections).
 The Large Intestine

The large intestine is

where the reabsorption
of liquid, electrolytes,
and some vitamins
from the undigested
food takes place.
 The large intestine

It secretes mucus to aid in the formation of

feces and maintains alkaline conditions.

This is the last segment of the

gastrointestinal tract that completes
absorption and compacts waste.
5. EGESTION
 Egestion
Egestion is the last process that occurs in
the digestive system.

It is the release of undigested food

collected in the rectum called feces and
pushed out of the body through the anus by
defecation.
Other Organs in the
Digestive System
Other Organs in the Digestive
System

The liver is the

biggest organ inside
the body with a mass
of about two
kilograms.
Other Organs in the Digestive
System

It produces bile, a green fluid

that turns large fat droplets
into smaller ones and stores
them in the gall bladder.

When necessary, bile gets

into the small intestine and
helps in the digestion of fat.
 Other Organs in the Digestive
System

Gall bladder - a small pear-shaped

sac that can hold about 50ml of bile.
 Pancreas
The pancreas makes three different kinds of
enzymes namely amylase, peptidase, and
lipase released through a pancreatic duct that
aid in the digestion of all three organic
compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins,
and fats respectively.

The process takes about half of a liter of

digestive juices each day.