Digestive system

esophagus is the first place peristalsis occurs. Peristalsis is the rhythmic contractions of smooth muscle in the esophagus and the intestines that aids in the progression of food through the tract. Peristalsis is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system. When digestion begins, signals are sent to and from the brain that controls movement and the release of enzymes or hormones. There are two types of nerves that control digestion: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic nerves control…

The tongue is probably the strongest part of the human body. It is the only muscle in our body that has one end that moves freely, unattached to any other body structures and at its other end attached to eight other muscles. On an average, the women have a shorter tongue than men, an adult man's average tongue length is 3.3 inches (8.5 cm), and an adult woman's average tongue length is 3.1 inches (7.9 cm). While it is true that the tongue contains taste buds, other taste cells are found at the…

Sometimes it’s triggered after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection or severe emotional stress. When the body's immune system overreacts to gluten from food, it causes damage to villi. Villi are tiny, hair-like projections that line the small intestine. They are responsible for the absorption of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients collected from the food you eat. If your…

Animals and humans have bacterial populations all over their body. However, the gastrointestinal microbiome is one of the most complex and dense populations studied (Todar, 2012). The mammalian gastrointestinal tract is comprised of about four million bacterial genes with more than 95% located in the large intestine (Galland, 2014). The gastrointestinal microbiota varies along the tract at longitudinal levels and horizontal levels due to particular bacteria attaching to the epithelium in the…

The Alimentary canal or gastrointestinal tract is made up of all the organs which food passes through during digestion. Starting from the mouth, where saliva is produced protecting the teeth and chemically breaking down food molecules and teeth are used to mechanically chew food from larger molecules to smaller molecules. Food is then passed through the Pharynx. The Epiglottis in the Pharynx, is a flap of tissue that covers the trachea to prevent food from entering the lungs, thus directing…

Description and Prevalence Esophagus is part of the gastrointestinal (GI) system located in the upper body, posterior to the trachea (Huether and McCance, 2012). The esophagus consists of four layers (from outermost to innermost layer): adventitia, musculairis propria, submucosa and mucosa. The submucosa and the mucosa layers are very important because they are the common sites for cancer development. The submucosa layer contains gland cells that produce mucus for lubrication and aiding the…

Digestion of a cheese burger? Step 1. When you chew, saliva is added. In addition to being a liquid which moistens, softens and lubricate food, saliva contains enzyme called amylase, which breaks down starch. In the mouth the Meat patty and the bread could be broken down and digested. Step 2. The oesophagus has two layers. Its interior is lined with cells that are packed very closely together creating a smooth surface. The circular muscle around the outside of the oesophagus is also smooth…

Cholecystitis, a condition also referred to as gallbladder disease, occurs when an individual’s gallbladder becomes inflamed. This inflammation is usually caused by gallstones, which block the tube through which bile is usually released. The buildup is responsible for the inflammation. Gallstones are common, particularly in Western populations. In the United States, gallstones are seen in approximately 6% of men and 9% of women. The incidence in children is not known; however, gallstones/biliary…

the fundus, body and the antrum. The walls of the stomach are made up of muscle layer (longitudinal, circular and oblique muscle), submucosa and mucosa. There are many functions of the stomach, it is a temporary storage area for the food to allow digestive enzymes to act. These break down the food molecules so they are ready for the intestines. It functions to do the mechanical breakdown and production of Chyme. The stomach walls roll and churn the food around and pour on secretions from the…

74-75) explained that an integral factor in enzymatic digestion is the pH of individual sections of the digestive tract. The highly acidic pH of the stomach’s gastric juice is needed to not only prevent bacterial growth, but to create an optimal environment for it’s enzymes to digest the food (now chyme) received through the cardioesophageal sphincter. The…