What is the primary function of the digestive system?
The primary function of the digestive system is to break down food into nutrients that the body can absorb and use for energy, growth, and cell repair.
What are the major organs of the digestive system?
The major organs of the digestive system include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.
Where does digestion begin?
Digestion begins in the mouth, where food is chewed and mixed with saliva.
What is the role of saliva in digestion?
Saliva contains enzymes that begin the process of breaking down carbohydrates in the food.
What is peristalsis?
Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.
What is the function of the stomach in digestion?
The stomach secretes acid and digestive enzymes that continue to break down food into a semi-liquid form called chyme.
How does the small intestine contribute to digestion?
The small intestine continues digestion and is the primary site for nutrient absorption into the bloodstream.
What is the role of the liver in digestion?
The liver produces bile, which helps digest fats and is stored in the gallbladder.
What is the function of the pancreas in the digestive system?
The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid entering the small intestine.
What is the role of the large intestine in digestion?
The large intestine absorbs water and electrolytes from remaining food matter and compacts it into feces.
What is the purpose of villi in the small intestine?
Villi are small finger-like projections that increase the surface area for nutrient absorption in the small intestine.
How do enzymes support the digestive process?
Enzymes break down large food molecules into smaller molecules that the body can absorb.
What is chyme?
Chyme is the semi-liquid mixture of partially digested food and digestive juices present in the stomach and small intestine.
What role does the gallbladder play in digestion?
The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver until it is needed in the small intestine.
What is the final stage of digestion called, and where does it occur?
The final stage is called defecation, and it occurs in the large intestine where waste is expelled from the body.