The digestive process involves the mixing of food, the movement of food through the digestive tract, and a chemical breakdown of large molecules of food into smaller molecules. The digestive system is made up of the digestive tract and other organs that aid in digestion. The digestive tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus. Those twisted tubes include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and the anus. There are other organs such as the tongue, glands in the mouth, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder that help with digestion, but are not part of the digestive tract. As most of us know the digestive process begins as soon as food enters into our mouth. Saliva begins to break down sugars and starches, while our teeth grind the food into what is called bolus. The bolus enters into the esophagus and is than swallowed. From here it than enters into the stomach for further breakdown from stomach acids. Very little food is actually digested in the stomach. It is just broke down a little so that it can be easier for the digestive process that will take place in the intestines. Our food starts to break down into a thick paste known as chyme, it moves past the pyloric sphincter and into the small intestine. The pyloric sphincter is what protects food from re-entering into the stomach. The first section of the small intestine secretes digestive enzymes to break down the chyme into even smaller parts that we use for energy. The second part of the small intestines is where the majority of food is absorbed into the bloodstream. In the last part of the small intestines the rest of the nutrients are absorbed. What is not absorbed by the small intestine than passes into the large intestine. Anything that is not absorbed by this time is then eliminated through the rectum and anus completing the digestive process. Digestion times vary depending on the individual. For most adults digestion can take 24-72 hours. It takes six to eight hours for good to pass through our stomach and small intestine. Elimination of undigested food residue through the large intestine begins after 24 hours usually. Complete elimination from the body can sometimes take several days.
References
(1)http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/digestive-system/an00896
(2)http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/digestive_disorders/digestive_system/Pages/index.aspx
References: (1)http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/digestive-system/an00896 (2)http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/digestive_disorders/digestive_system/Pages/index.aspx
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