Question

What is the digestive process? What are the stages of digestion?

Answer 1

Food stuffs are changed to its simple forms by the mechanical and chemical actions ofvthe digestive process.So that it can easily get absorbed into blood and can be utilized by tissues in the body.

DIGESTIVE PROCESS

It involves breaking up of large particles of foodstuff like polysaccharides,fats and proteins into smaller particles like monosaccharides,fatty acids and amino acids,which can be easily absorbed.

Then energy needed for the body system are produced by metabolization of those absorbed products.

Gastrointestinal tract is formed by 2 types of organs;

• Primary digestive organs
• Accessory digestivs organs

Actual digestion takes place in primary digestive organs.It consists of;

- Mouth

- Pharynx

- Esophagus

- Stomach

- Small intestine

- Large intestine

Organs which help the primary digestive organs are the accessory digestive organs.

- Teeth

- Tongue

- Salivary glands

- Exocrine part of pancreas

- Liver

- Gall bladder

STAGES OF DIGESTION

Digestion occurs in the alimentary canal or GI tract.

It consists of 4 stages;

1. Ingestion
2. Digestion
3. Absorption
4. Excretion

Ingestion

Taking in of food and chewing(mastication) are the functions of mouth and teeth, aided by tongue.

Pharynx and esophagus helps in swallowing.

Digestion

It occurs in the stomach and upper part of small intestine.

That is, stomach,Duodenum and Jejunum.

Absorption

It can occur from any part of the alimentary canal. Mainly by small intestine.

Excretion

major quantity of water is absorbed by large intestine and the residue is excreted in the form of feces.