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Major Functions In Digestive System
The digestive system, composed of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract along with other organs, performs the major process of digestion in the body. Digestion is the process of breaking down complex food particles into smaller ones which can be assimilated and absorbed by the body to derive energy. |
When we ingest food, it is in the form of complex molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats and so on. These are insoluble and hence, are later broken down in the body through the process of digestion by a number of physical and chemical processes catalyzed by enzymes called digestive enzymes, into smaller soluble particles which can be easily assimilated and absorbed by the body.
When food enters the digestive system, the first process that takes place is ingestion. This is nothing but the process of eating. As we chew the food, it is propelled forward into the digestive tract. Chewing is nothing but the process of mechanical digestion which is aided by the saliva present in the mouth. The food is propelled forward into the digestive tract by peristalsis. This is the alternate contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the digestive tract. When the food is being propelled, there are also several enzymes which act and try to bring the pH of the food to the level that is accepted by the body. The process of mechanical digestion continues in the stomach and also in the small intestine. In the stomach and in the intestines, there are enzymes which help in chemical digestion. Once this is done, absorption of food and water takes place in the intestines after which the nutrients are circulated in the blood to the different parts of the body.
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Major Functions In Digestive System
