Parts of the Human Digestive System

The digestive system of the human body comprises a group of organs that
work together in converting food into energy and other basic nutrients to
power the body. The food we take in is digested and utilized by our body, and
the unused parts of the food are defecated.

The digestive system of the human body is the sum of the gastrointestinal
tract (GIT; also called alimentary canal) and accessory organs (tongue, liver,
pancreas, etc.). These two parts together help in the digestion process.

The alimentary canal is the long tube through which the food that we eat is
passed. It begins at the mouth (buccal or oral cavity), passes through the
pharynx, oesophagus or food pipe, stomach, small intestines, large intestines,
rectum and finally ends at the anus. The food particles gradually get digested
as they travel through various compartments of the alimentary canal.

Accessory organs are organs which participate in the digestion process but
are not actually a part of GIT. They stimulate the digestion by releasing
certain enzymes that help in breaking down the food.

Let us have a detailed look at the digestive system of the human body, along
with its parts and functions:

Mouth
Food starts its journey from the mouth or the oral cavity. There are many other
organs that contribute to the digestion process, including teeth, salivary
glands, and tongue. Teeth are designed for grinding food particles into small
pieces and are moistened with saliva before the tongue pushes the food into
the pharynx.

Pharynx
A fibromuscular y-shaped tube attached to the terminal end of the mouth. It
is mainly involved in the passage of chewed/crushed food from the mouth
through the oesophagus. It also has a major part in the respiratory system, as
air travels through the pharynx from the nasal cavity on its way to the lungs.

Oesophagus
This is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx, which is a part of an upper
section of the gastrointestinal tract. It supplies swallowed food along with its
length.

Also Read: Food Pipe

Stomach
It serves as a muscular bag which is situated towards the left side of the
abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm. This vital organ acts as a storage
for the food and provides enough time to digest meals. The stomach also
produces digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid that maintains the
process of digestion.

 Mucous: It is an aqueous secretion produced by the mucous

membranes. It functions by protecting the stomach lining and gastric
pits from the acid, which is produced by the glands to destroy the
bacteria that entered along with the food particles.

 Digestive enzymes: They are the group of enzymes which functions by

breaking down polymeric macromolecules like biopolymers into their
smaller and simpler substances.

 Hydrochloric acid: It is the digestive fluid formed by the stomach during

the process of digestion. It functions by destroying harmful
microorganisms present in the food particles.

Small Intestine
The small intestine is a thin, long tube of about 10 feet long and a part of the
lower gastrointestinal tract. It is present just behind the stomach and acquires
a maximum area of the abdominal cavity. The complete small intestine is
coiled and the inner surface consists of folds and ridges.
Large Intestine
This is a thick, long tube measuring around 5 feet in length. It is present just
beneath the stomach and wraps over the superior and lateral edges of the
small intestine. It absorbs water and consists of bacteria (symbiotic) that
support the breakdown of wastes to fetch small nutrients.

Also Read: Large Intestine

Rectum
Waste products are passed into the end of the large intestine called the
rectum and eliminated out of the body as a solid matter called stool. It is
stored in the rectum as semi-solid faeces which later exits from the body
through the anal canal through the process of defecation.

Accessory Organs
Pancreas
It is a large gland present just behind the stomach. It is short with its anterior
connected to the duodenum and posterior pointing towards the left part of
the abdominal cavity. The pancreas releases digestive enzymes to complete
the process of chemical digestion.

Read More: Pancreas

Liver
The liver is a roughly triangular, reddish-brown accessory organ of the
digestive system located to the right of the stomach. It produces bile, which
helps in the digestion of fat in the small intestine. The bile is stored and
recycled in the gallbladder. It is a small, pear-shaped organ which is located
just next to the liver.

Also Read: Cellulose in Digestion

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 gradually get digested as they travel through various
compartments of the gastrointestinal tract.

The digestion process takes place in the following steps.

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.

Also Read: What is Liver

Digestion
The process of converting complex food particles into simpler substances in
the presence of enzymes and acids secreted by different digestive organs.

Read more: What are digestive juices?

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.

In a nutshell, the digestion process consists of the six following steps:

Ingestion ⇒Mixing and

Movement ⇒ Secretion ⇒ Digestion ⇒Absorption ⇒Excretion

Also Read: Gastrointestinal Tract

Disorders of the Human Digestive System

Vomiting: It is the ejection of stomach contents through the mouth.

Diarrhoea: It is the abnormal watery bowel movement. Prolonged diarrhoea

eventually leads to dehydration.

Constipation: A condition in which the faeces are clutched within the rectum
due to an irregular bowel movement.

Indigestion: A pain or discomfort in the stomach which is caused when food

is not digested properly, resulting in the feeling of fullness. Indigestion is
mainly caused due to inadequate enzyme secretion, food poisoning, anxiety,
overeating and eating spicy foods.

Also Read: Difference between trachea and oesophagus

Functions of the Human Digestive System

Digestion and absorption are the two main functions of the digestive system.
Digestion is necessary for breaking down food particles into nutrients that are
used by the body as an energy source, cell repair and growth.

Food and drink need to be converted into smaller molecules

of nutrients before it is absorbed by the blood and carried to the cells
throughout the body. The body breaks the nutrients present in the drinks and
food into carbohydrates, vitamins, fats and proteins.

Human Digestive System Notes

 The human digestive system breaks down food to release energy essential for the
body to carry out its activities.
 The process of digestion takes place in 6 major steps.
 The food is ingested by the alimentary canal and is propelled through the body for
further processing.
 The autonomous nervous system controls the peristalsis, contraction and
relaxation of muscles within the alimentary canal wall.
 The food is passed to the small intestine where it is digested, and the nutrients are
absorbed.
 Water, electrolytes and vitamins are absorbed by the large intestine and the
waste is defecated.

Also Read: Mouth and Buccal Cavity