Digeestive system structures and functions

component function structure

Mouth cavity Also known as the oral Made up of the teeth,
cavity. Mechanically break tongue, hard plate and soft
down food, moisten it with plate.
saliva, and swallow the food
further into the esophagus
and stomach.
Mechanical digestion by
teeth; Chemical digestion of
starch by saliva.
Salivary glands Produce saliva to keep the Parotid, submandibular and
mouth and digestive system sublingual glands.
moist. Helps break down
carbohydrates with (salivary
amylase) & lubricates the
passage of food down to the
stomach.
Three pairs of glands
produce saliva, which
dissolves food so it can be
tasted. Saliva contains
mucous and food and holds
food in a lump for
swallowing. It also contains
the enzyme salivary amylase,
which begins starch
digestion.
Liver Process the nutrients 2 main lobes connected to
absorbed from the small small ducts
intestine.
Produces Bile, which is
stored and concentrated in
the gall bladder. Bile
emulsifies lipids in the small
intestine.
Gall bladder Stores bile until it is required Organ found in the
for digestion. abdomen.
Stores bile and releases it
into the small intestine,
where the bile emulsifies
lipids in the small intestine.
Duodenum To digest nutrients and pass First and shortest section of
them into the blood vessels the small intestine.
located in the intestinal wall
for absorption of the
nutrients into the
bloodstream.
First part of the small
intestine.
Transverse/Ascending/ Ascending -> absorbs the
Descending Colon remaining water and other
nutrients from the
indigestible food material,
solidifying it into stool.
Transverse -> absorbs water
and salts from the
indigestible material.
Descending -> storage are for
feces.
Longest part of large
intestine, absorbs water,
minerals, vitamins.
caecum Absorb fluids and salts that Internal wall is a thick
remain after completion of mucous membrane for water
intestinal digestion and and salts to be absorbed.
absorption, to mix its
contents with a lubricating
substance mucous.
First part of the large
instestine.
Appendix Unknown function. May Thin tube about four inches
possibly act as a storehouse long, sits in the lower right
for good bacteria. abdomen.
Plays a role in immunity and
stores useful bacteria.
Rectum Stores stool until it pushes Straight 8 inch chamber that
stool out of your anus during connects the colon to the
a bowel movement. anus.
Final part of large intestine in
which faeces are formed.
Pharynx Usually called the throat, Back of the mouth cavity, by
carries air, food and fluid moving upwards and
down from the nose and backwards. Muscular hollow
mouth cavity. tube,
Tongue pushes food into the
pharynx for swallowing.
Esophagus Receives food from your Located in the throat near
mouth when swallowing. the trachea,
Carries food from the mouth
to the stomach, it passes
through the diaphragm into
the abdominal cavity.
Stomach Produces enzymes and acids J-shaped organ, muscular
to break down food so it can organ on the left side of the
pass to the small intestine. upper abdomen.
Mechanical digestion by
churning action; chemical
digestion by pepsin, which
begins protein digestion. In
infants, rennin coagulates
 milk protein.
Pyloric sphincter It opens and closes to control Ring of smooth muscle that
the passage of partially connects the stomach and
digested food and stomach small intestine.
juices from the pylorus to Band of circular muscle.
the duodenum.
Regulates flow of material
from the stomach to
duodenum.
Pancreas Creates natural juices called Juices travel through
pancreatic enzymes to break pancreas via ducts.
down foods.
Produces pancreatic juices
containing enzymes for
digesting proteins, lipids and
nucleic acids.

Small intestine Food is broken down into Longest segment of the

liquid for most nutrients to gastrointestinal tract. A long
be absorbed. continuous pathway. About
Its lining secretes intestinal 6cm long.
juice, which contains many
enzymes. The internal
surface is lined with villi for
absorption of digested food.
anus Last part of the digestive 2-inch long canal with pelvic
tract. Able to detect rectal floor muscles and two anal
contents whether they are sphincters.
solid liquid or gas. Squamous cells.
Opening surrounded by the
anal sphincter, a muscle that
can be voluntarily controlled.