How does your body turn food into poop? Human digestive system

Summary

The digestive process begins in the mouth, where food is mixed with saliva containing amylase, breaking down carbohydrates. It travels down the esophagus through peristalsis to the stomach, where it is stored, mixed with digestive juices, and turned into a semi-liquid form. This mixture then enters the small intestine, particularly the duodenum, where nutrients are absorbed with the help of bile and pancreatic juices. The colon further processes leftover material, absorbing water and breaking it down with bacteria, leading to the formation of waste that is stored in the rectum and eventually expelled through the anus.

Takeaways

• 😀 Digestion begins in the mouth, where food is mixed with saliva and the enzyme amylase breaks down carbohydrates.
• 😀 The epiglottis serves as a switch, directing air to the lungs and food to the esophagus.
• 😀 The esophagus is an 8-inch muscular tube that transports food to the stomach through peristalsis, resembling a wave motion.
• 😀 The stomach is a hollow, J-shaped organ that stores food, mixes it with digestive juices, and gradually empties it into the small intestine.
• 😀 The stomach's inner layer has wrinkles called rugae, allowing it to stretch and accommodate large meals.
• 😀 The small intestine, measuring about 20 feet in adults, is where most nutrient absorption occurs after food leaves the stomach.
• 😀 The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine, receiving partially digested food and aiding digestion with bile and pancreatic juice.
• 😀 Nutrients from food are broken down into amino acids, fatty acids, glycerol, and simple sugars for absorption.
• 😀 The colon absorbs water and houses bacteria that break down remaining waste material before it moves to the rectum.
• 😀 The rectum stores waste until it is expelled from the body through the anus as stool.

Q & A

What initiates the process of digestion?

The process of digestion begins in the mouth when food is mixed with saliva.

What is the role of the enzyme amylase?

Amylase is an enzyme found in saliva that breaks down carbohydrates.

What is the function of the epiglottis?

The epiglottis is a flap that directs air into the lungs and food into the esophagus.

How does food travel from the mouth to the stomach?

Food travels from the mouth to the stomach via the esophagus, which uses peristalsis, a wave-like muscle movement.

What are the three main mechanical jobs of the stomach?

The stomach stores food, mixes it with digestive juices, and gradually empties the mixture into the small intestine.

What role does the duodenum play in digestion?

The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine where most nutrient absorption begins, aided by bile and pancreatic juice.

How long is the small intestine in adults compared to newborns?

In adults, the small intestine can reach up to 6 meters, while in newborns, it measures a little more than 200 centimeters.

What happens to nutrients during digestion?

Nutrients from food are broken down into smaller components that the body can use, such as amino acids from proteins, fatty acids from fats, and simple sugars from carbohydrates.

What occurs in the colon after the small intestine?

In the colon, water is absorbed, bacteria break down remaining material, and leftover waste is moved into the rectum.

How does waste exit the body?

Waste, known as stool, is expelled from the body through the rectum and anus.