THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
The digestive system is made up of the Gastrointestinal Tract (variously called the GI tract,or the digestive tract), and the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs that are joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus.
The follow organs that make up the GI tract are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus with the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder are the solid organs of the digestive system.
The small intestine: Has three parts. The duodenum, the jejunum in the middle with the ileumat the end.
The large intestine: Includes the appendix, cecum, colon, and rectum. The cecum is the firstpart, the colon is next with the rectum at the end of the large intestine. The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch attached to the cecum.
In every human, there is some bacteria in the GI tract.This is also called gut flora or micro biome, it helps with digestion. Working together, the nerves, hormones, bacteria, blood, and the other organs of the digestive system digest the foods and liquids we eat or drink each day.
IMPORTANCE OF DIGESTION
Digestion is important because the body needs nutrients from food and drink to work properly and stay healthy. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water are nutrients. Your digestive system breaks these nutrients into parts small enough for the body to absorb and use for energy, growth, and cell repair.
For example after digestion:
- Proteins break into amino acids
- Fats break into fatty acids and glycerol
- Carbohydrates break into simple sugars
HOW THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM WORKS
Each part of the digestive system helps to move food and liquid through the GI tract, and break food and liquid into smaller parts, or both. Once foods are broken into small enough parts, the body can absorb and move the nutrients to where it is needed. The large intestine absorbs water, and the waste products of digestion become stool. The nerves and hormones help control the digestive process.
BREAKING FOOD INTO SMALL PARTS
When ingested, the digestive organs break the food into smaller parts using:
- Motion (chewing, squeezing, and mixing)
- Digestive juices ( stomach acid, bile, and enzymes)
- Mouth: The digestive process starts in the mouth with chewing. The salivary glands make saliva which is a digestive juice. This juice moistens food so that it moves more easily through the esophagus into the stomach. Saliva also has an enzyme that begins to break down starches in the food.
- Esophagus: After swallowing, peristalsis pushes the food down the esophagus into the stomach.
- Stomach: Glands in the stomach lining make stomach acid and enzymes that break down food. The muscles in the stomach mix the food with the digestive juices.
- Pancreas: The pancreas makes a digestive juice that has enzymes that breaks down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The pancreas delivers the digestive juice to the small intestine through small tubes called ducts.
- Liver: The liver makes a digestive juice called bile that helps to digest fats and some vitamins. Bile ducts in the body carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder for storage, or to the small intestine for use.
- Gallbladder: The gallbladder stores bile between meals. The gallbladder squeezes bile through the bile ducts into the small intestine when food is ingested.
- Small intestine: The small intestine also makes digestive juice, which mixes with the bile and pancreatic juice to complete the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Bacteria in the small intestine make some of the enzymes the body needs to digest carbohydrates. The small intestine moves water from the bloodstream into the GI tract to help break down food.
- Large intestine: Water moves from the GI tract into the bloodstream. Bacteria in the large intestine helps to break down remaining nutrients and make vitamin K NIH external link. The waste products of digestion, including parts of food that are still too large, become stool.
Digestive diseases are disorders of the Gastrointestinal Tract, they may include:
Cancer, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Lactose Intolerance
- The most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are pain in the abdomen, often related to bowel movements, and changes in bowel movements. These changes may be diarrhea, constipation, or both, depending on what type of IBS patients have. Doctors aren’t sure what causes IBS. Read More
- Persons with lactose intolerance, have digestive symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, and gasafter you consume foods or drinks that contain lactose. If it prevents one from getting enough nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D,it could pose a major problem. Symptoms of lactose intolerance may include bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and abdominal pain. Read More
Gallstones, Cholecystitis, and Cholangitis
- Cholecystitis: is inflammation of the gallbladder.
- Cholangitis: is bacterial infection of the biliary tract. Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that can form in the gallbladder. Bile is a digestive fluid produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. When we eat, the gallbladder contracts and empties bile into the small intestine (duodenum). Read More
Rectal problems: (Anal Fissure, Hemorrhoids, Proctitis and Rectal Prolapse)
- Anorectal disorders like hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, anal fissures, peri-anal fistulae are bothersome benign conditions that warrant special attention. They can be diagnosed by inspection or proctoscopy. Hemorrhoids and anal fissures are generally treated conservatively and surgery is seldom required. Rectal prolapse and crypto glandular peri-anal fistulae are treated surgically. Read More
Esophagus problems: (Stricture and Achalasia)
- Stricture: is the abnormal narrowing of the esophageal lumen. This often presents difficulty in swallowing. (Dysphagia). Read More
- Achalasia: is a serious condition that affects the esophagus. If you have achalasia the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) which is a muscular ring that closes off the esophagus from the stomach fails to open up during swallowing. This leads to a backup of food within your esophagus. Read More
Stomach problems: (Gastritis, Gastric Ulcers and Cancer)
- Gastritis: is a general term for a group of conditions that has one thing in common, inflammation of the stomach lining. Read More
- Gastric ulcers: are open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach. Read More
- Cancers: are a group of diseases involving abnormal growth of cells with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Read More
Liver problems: (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Cirrhosis, Liver Failure and Alcoholic Hepatitis).
- Hepatitis B: is an infection of the liver that can cause scarring of the organ, liver failure, and cancer. It can be fatal if it is not treated. Read More
- Hepatitis C is a liver infection that can lead to serious liver damage. It is caused by the hepatitis C virus. Read More
- Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring of the liver caused by many types of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism. Read More
- Liver failure is the loss or losing of all functions of the liver. It is life-threatening and demands urgent medical care. The first symptoms are often nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and diarrhea. Read More
- Alcoholic hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by drinking alcohol. This is most likely to occur in people who drink heavily over several years. Read More
- Pancreas problems: (Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Pseudo Cyst) - Pancreatitis is inflammation in the pancreas. The pancreas produces enzymes that help digestion and hormones that help regulate the way your body processes sugar (glucose). Read More
- A pancreatic pseudo cyst is a collection of fluid rich in pancreatic enzymes, blood, and necrotic tissue, typically located in the lesser sac of the abdomen. They are usually complications of pancreatitis. Read More
Intestinal problems: Polyps, mCancer Celiac Disease, Crohn Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticulitis, Mal-Absorption, Short Bowel Syndrome and Intestinal Ischemia. Read More
- Polyps: are abnormal tissue growths that most often look like small, flat bumps or tiny mushroom like stalks. Read More
- Celiac disease: sometimes called gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Read More
- Crohn's disease: is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which causes inflammation of the digestive tract, leading to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Read More
- Ulcerative colitis: is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers (sores) in the digestive tract. It affects the innermost lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Read More
- Diverticulitis: is a serious medical condition that affects the digestive tract by causing inflamed pouches in the lining of the intestine. Read More
- Malabsorption: is a state arising from abnormality in absorption of food nutrients across the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.Short bowel syndrome is a condition in which the body is unable to absorb enough nutrients from the foods you eat because the small intestines is not enough. Read More
- Intestinal ischemia: occurs when the blood flow through the major arteries that supply blood to your intestines slows or stops. This can be attributed to the narrowing of an artery due to buildup of deposits, such as cholesterol. Read More
- Gastro esophageal: (Peptic Ulcer and Hiatal Hernia). Read More
- A Peptic Ulceris a sore on the lining of the stomach, small intestine or esophagus. Read More
- A Hiatal Herniais when the stomach bulges up into thechest through an opening in the diaphragm. Read More
