DIGESTIVE VERTICAL INFO

THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

InfograPHIC

Ingestion – food is taken into the mouth. Digestion – physical and chemical processes that start in the mouth and continue in the stomach and small intestine.

MOuth

Oesophagus

Stomach

Small Intestine

Colon

Anus

Absorption – the movement of nutrients across the gastro-intestinal lining into the blood and lymphatic system for the body to use. Elimination – excretion of undigested food and waste substances as faeces.

Mouth

When we eat, the teeth mechanically break down food into smaller pieces. Teeth of different shape tear, chop and grind the food. The cheeks and tongue help to push the food towards the teeth. The food is then rolled into a ball and swallowed down the oesophagus.

Oesophagus

When food is swallowed, the muscles in the oesophagus contract and relax, helping to push the food down into the stomach. These waves of muscular contractions which move food along the digestive system are called peristalsis. Did you know? Each mouthful of food takes about six seconds to reach the stomach once it is swallowed. Even when the body is upside down, the food will still pass from the mouth to the stomach.

Stomach

The stomach is a sac made of muscles that contract and churn food, breaking it down even further. The acid and enzymes in the stomach also help to break down the food. When the food has been churned into a creamy mixture known as chyme, it passes gradually into the small intestine. Did you know? Food can spend up to 2 to 3 hours in the stomach.

Small Intestine

The small intestine is a tube about 6 metres long. The first section of the small intestine is called the duodenum, followed by jejunum and ileum. The inner surface of the small intestine is folded into numerous tiny finger-like structures called villi to increase the surface area for absorption.

Colon

The colon is shorter than the small intestine. The main function of the colon is to remove water. Bacteria ferment the remaining food and produce some molecules and gases. Faeces are formed and are stored in the rectum until these are excreted through the anus.

Anus

To detect rectal contents, whether they are liquid, gas or solid, and then control when stool should and shouldn't be excreted from your body.