Unit 7: Digestive System

Chapter 15

The Digestive System Notes Part 1

I. OVERVIEW OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
A. Functions of the Digestive System
 1. __________________ - Consuming food
 2. __________________ - Breakdown of ingested food into
smaller molecule
 3. __________________ - Passage of nutrients into the
blood
 4. _____________ - Converting nutrients into raw materials
for Production of cellular energy (ATP)
 5. __________________ - Removing indigestible wastes

B. Types of Digestion
1. ___________________________:
 ___________, mixing, churning, ________________,
tearing, or mashing of food.
2. ___________________________:
 _________________ break down food molecules into their _____________________
o ________________________ are broken down to simple _______________
o ______________ are broken down to ________________________
o ________ are broken down to __________________ and alcohols

II. ORGANS OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

A. Two main types of digestive organs
 1. Organs along the _____________________________ (Gastrointestinal tract): – continuous
coiled hollow tube over 30 ft. long
o Mouth, pharynx, __________________, ________________, small and large
____________________, rectum
 2. __________________________________________: Organs that contribute secretions
(fluids) & enzymes to aid in digestion
o ______________________, liver, gall bladder, pancreas

B. ALIMENTARY CANAL ORGANS

1. ORAL CAVITY (Mouth, Teeth, & Salivary Glands)
a. Mouth
 Food enters the mouth where digestion begins
o MECHANICAL DIGESTION: ___________________ (chewing) of
food by teeth
o CHEMICAL DIGESTION: _____________
contains the enzyme ______________ that breaks
down ____________________ and starches in the
mouth
 ____________________ - masticated food mixed with
saliva

b. Teeth
 Function: _____________________
 Humans have 2 sets:
o 1. _________________ (baby or milk) teeth
Unit 7: Digestive System
Chapter 15

 20 teeth are fully formed by age two

o 2. ____________________ (adult) teeth
 Replace deciduous teeth between the ages of 6 to 12
 A full set is 32 teeth, but some people do not have wisdom teeth
 Classification of teeth
o _____________ – used for biting food
o _____________ – used for tearing food
o _____________ (bicuspids) – used for grinding food
o ____________ – Used for crushing food
 Parts of a tooth
o ______________ – exposed part of tooth made of enamel
o ____________ – connects crown to root
o _________ – Periodontal membrane attached to the bone,
contains blood vessels and nerves

c. Salivary Glands
 ______________________ - mixture of mucus and serous fluids
 Helps to ____________________________________
 Contains salivary _______________ to begin starch digestion
 Dissolves chemicals so they can be tasted

2. PHARYNX
 The passageway for air and food
 Has 3 parts: (see diagram)

 Swallowing:
o _________ that causes the epiglottis to move blocking the
trachea (windpipe)
o The ______________ opens to receive the _______

3. ESOPHAGUS
 “________________” links the pharynx to stomach through
the diaphragm
 _____________ layers contract to ______________
food through to the
the stomach
o Longitudinal inner layer
o Circular outer layer
 _________________ – alternating
waves of muscle contraction
4. STOMACH
a. Structure & Path of Food
 ________________________________________ organ
located on the left side of the abdominal cavity
 Bolus (food) enters through the
___________________________
o Prevents the backup of stomach acid into esophagus
(_____________)
 Bolus (food) enters through the four regions of the stomach:
o ____________ region – near the heart
o ____________ region
o _________ region – main part of stomach
o ____________ region – funnel-shaped end
Unit 7: Digestive System
Chapter 15

 __________ (mixture of ________ & gastric

juices) exits through the ___________________________ into the
small intestine
 MECHANICAL DIGESTION: Muscle of stomach contract to
_________ and _______ food with gastric juices.
 Deep folds called ___________ allow stomach to expand when filled
with food
b. Coverings of the stomach
 __________________________ – membrane that covers the
abdominal wall and organs
o ________________ peritoneum – covers the organ
o _____________ peritoneum – covers the cavity walls
 _____________________ holds the stomach & intestines in place in abdominopelvic cavity
c. Gastric Juices
 CHEMICAL DIGESTION: Lining of the stomach _______________ gastric
juices that _______________ food.
 Gastric juices contain pepsin, HCl,
and mucus
o ____________ breaks down ___________
into amino acids
o ____________________________ (HCl) is
a very strong acid (pH _______) that activate
enzymes and kills _______________
o _______________ protects the lining of the stomach
from the acidic environment
o Replaced every few days
o If the mucus layer is broken down by increased acid, an
_________ may form
o ____________________: Open sores on the lining of the
digestive tract that may bleed and be very painful
 Caused by bacteria (Heliobacter pylori), regular
use of pain relievers or other medications
The Digestive System Notes Part 2
II. ORGANS OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM (continued)
B. ALIMENTARY CANAL ORGANS
Review: 1. Oral Cavity (mouth, teeth, salivary glands) > 2. Pharynx > 3. Esophagus > 4. Stomach

5. SMALL INTESTINE
a. Overview
 ______________________ extending form the pyloric sphincter to the ileocecal
valve
 Up to 22 feet long
 Functions:
 ___________________________ – most digestion occurs in the small intestine
 Carbohydrate and protein digestion is completed
 Fat digestion begins
 Main site of _________________________ into the blood
b. Structure
 Small Intestine has 3 parts:
Unit 7: Digestive System
Chapter 15

o ____________________
o First 25 cm, attached to the
stomach
o ___________________ from the
liver and pancreas to aid in digestion
o ____________________
o Next 3 feet
o Contains folds and villi for
absorption
o ___________________
o Last 6-7 feet
o Extends from jejunum to large
intestine
 Walls of the small intestine
 Has 3 features that increase the
_________________ for maximum absorption of nutrients
o 1. ____________________________ – permanent transverse folds in the mucosa and
submucosa
o 2. _____________ – fingerlike projections of the mucosa
o Goblet cells in villi produce mucus to lubricate chyme
o Villi contain absorptive cells and blood capillaries to absorb nutrients
o 3. _________________________ – microscopic extensions from the plasma membrane

o
c.

CHEMICAL DIGESTION in the Small Intestine

 ___________________________________________ in the small intestine
 Accessory organs aid in digestion by secreting
enzymes into the small intestine
o Bile from the gall bladder
 Breaks down
______________
o Pancreatic juices from the pancreas
 Sodium bicarbonate
________________ the acid

d. Absorption in the Small Intestine

 When food has been
_____________________ to its nutrients & waste products, the ____________________ must be
________________ by the body
 Most nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine.
 Most substances are absorbed by ____________________________ through cell membranes
 ____________ are absorbed by ______________________
 After absorption, nutrients are transported to the cells through the bloodstream
Unit 7: Digestive System
Chapter 15

6. LARGE INTESTINE
 Once digestion & absorption of nutrients is complete, the chyme moves into the large intestine by peristalsis
 Also known as the ___________
 Larger in diameter, but shorter than the small intestine
a. Functions of the Large Intestine
 Absorption of ____________
 Does not participate in digestion of food
 ____________________ indigestible food from the body as _________
 Goblet cells produce mucus to act as a lubricant
b. Structure
 ______________________ Colon –
includes the cecum (saclike structure) with a
small projection called the
_________________
 ____________________ Colon
 ____________________ Colon
 ____________________ Colon
c. Food Breakdown & Absorption in the Large
Intestine
 Bacteria breaks down indigestible
materials
o Source of __________
o Produce some vitamin ____
and ____
o Release ________
 ___________, vitamins ___, and
vitamin ___ are _______________________
 Remaining materials are eliminated as feces

7. RECTUM
 Feces moves from the sigmoid colon of the large intestine to the rectum by peristalsis
 ___________________ in the ____________ until the
involuntary internal anal sphincter is triggered to open
 __________________ or expulsion of feces occurs when the
voluntary external anal sphincter relaxes and the feces passes
out of the body
 Happens daily
 __________________ by _____________ of
feces in rectum

C. ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
1. PANCREAS
 ______________ a wide spectrum of
________________________ that break down all types of food
 Enzymes are secreted into the ____________________ of the small intestine
a. Secretions of the Pancreas
1. _____________________________: Helps complete digestion of starch
2. ______________, etc: Carry out about half of all protein digestion
Unit 7: Digestive System
Chapter 15

3. _______________: Responsible for fat

digestion
4. _______________: Digest nucleic acids
5. ______________________: Neutralize
acidic chyme
 Enzymes are transported to the small
intestine through the
_________________________ (shared with the
liver)

2. LIVER
 _____________ organ in the body
 Has _____ main lobes
o Larger right lobe
o Smaller left lobe
 The ______________ also contributes to
digestion by _____________________________
a. Bile
 Bile is a greenish substance that
__________________
 Stored in _______________________
 Composed of bile salts & pigments
(_______________ from hemoglobin breakdown),
cholesterol, phosphlipids, & electrolytes
 Helps to digest fatty foods

b. Role of the Liver in Metabolism

 Removes ____________ and ____________ from blood
 Degrades hormones
 Produce cholesterol, blood proteins (albumin and clotting
proteins)
 Plays a central role in _________________
 Stores products of digestion as
______________________ to be released as needed
3. GALL BLADDER
 Sac found in hollow fossa of liver
 __________________________ produced by the liver
 Bile is introduced into the duodenum in the presence of fatty
food
 ____________________ can cause blockages

III. Control of Digestive Activity

 Mostly controlled by _____________ via the
___________________ division of nervous system
 Chemical and mechanical _________________ are located in
organ walls that __________________________________
 _________________ include:
o Stretch of the organ
o ________ of the contents
o __________________ of breakdown products
 ________________ include:
o Activation or inhibition of glandular secretions
o Smooth ______________ activity
Unit 7: Digestive System
Chapter 15

 Processes of the Digestive System (See diagram)

***You will write one summary for part 1 and part 2 notes combined. This will be a LONG summery.
Learning Goals:
1) Describe the functions of the digestive system.
2) Compare and contrast chemical and mechanical digestion.
3) Describe the pathway of food through the alimentary canal organs (7 total) and for each organ, state the type of
digestion (mechanical and/or chemical) that occurs. If chemical digestion occurs, additionally state what enzyme
is involved and what is broken down.
4) Explain the role of the pancreas and describe each of the five pancreatic secretions.