The Digestive System

Mouth

• Mechanical digestion - teeth

• Chemical digestion – saliva

• 11 cm long

Esophagus

• Muscular tube• Peristalsis • About 25 cm long

Stomach

• Strong muscles• Digestive juices• Chyme • About 22 cm long

Small Intestine

• Most digestion occurs here

• Molecules pass out through villi into blood

• About 690 cm long

Pancreas

• Accessory organ• Food does not go

through the pancreas• Produces chemicals

to help break down macromolecules

Liver

• Accessory organ• Has many jobs• Produces bile to help

digest fat

Gall Bladder

• Accessory organ• Stores bile• Helps digest fat

Large Intestine (Colon)

• Absorbs extra nutrients & water

• Forms wastes into solid feces

• About 152 cm long

Rectum

• Stores wastes• About 14 cm long

Anus

• Muscle that controls when wastes leaves the body