Digestive System 103

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
MS. UMANDA GANEGODA (B.Sc. (HONS) IN NURSING-PERADENIYA)

Learning outcomes
• At the end of this presentation, you will be able to,
• Identify the GIT
• Identify major and accessory organs of the GIT
• Describe the functions of GIT
• Describe the main processes relating the parts of the GIT
• Discuss common conditions and diseases related to GIT

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
• Called as
• Gastrointestinal tract (GI tract/GIT)
• Digestive tract
• Alimentary canal
• A series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the
mouth to the anus

MAJOR ORGANS OF THE GIT
MAJOR ORGANS OF THE GIT
• Mouth
• Oral cavity
• Pharynx
• Esophagus
• Stomach
• Small intestine
• Large intestine
• Rectum
• Anus
ACCESSORY ORGANS OF THE GIT
• Salivary glands • Liver & Gall bladder

• Sublingual
• Submandibular • Pancreas
• Parotid
Detailed diagram
of the GIT
FUNCTIONS OF THE GIT
• Breaks larger food particles into smaller molecules which is
enough for the body to absorb and use for energy, growth, and
cell repair.
• Includes 5 phases
1. Ingestion
2. Movement
3. Mechanical and Chemical Digestion
4. Absorption
5. Elimination
1. Ingestion
• The act or process of taking in something for or as if for
digestion : the act or process of ingesting something
• Takes place in the mouth

2. Movement
• Two types of movement (motility) occur:
• Peristalsis movements
• Segmentation (mixing) Movements
Peristalsis movements
Peristalsis movements
Peristalsis movements &

Mixing movements
3. Mechanical and Chemical Digestion
• Mechanical Digestion
• The large pieces of food that are ingested have to be broken into
smaller particles (physical breakdown of the food) that can be acted
upon by various enzymes. This is mechanical digestion, which begins
in the mouth with chewing or mastication and continues with
churning and mixing actions in the stomach. Peristalsis is also a part
of mechanical digestion.
• Chemical Digestion
• Refers the to the breakdown of food in the mouth, stomach and
intestines through the use of acids and enzymes.

4. Absorption
• The digested products are transported into the blood or lymph
through the mucous membrane.
5. Elimination
• The food molecules that cannot be digested or absorbed need to be eliminated
from the body. The removal of indigestible wastes through the anus, in the form
of feces, is defecation or elimination.
Mouth & Oral cavity
• Teeth mechanically break down food into small pieces.
• Tongue mixes food with saliva (contains amylase, which helps break
down starch).
• Epiglottis is a flap-like structure at the back of the throat that closes

over the trachea preventing food from entering it. It is located in the
Pharynx.
Esophagus
• Approximately 20 cm long.
• Functions include:
1. Secrete mucus
2. Moves food from the throat to the stomach using muscle

movement called peristalsis
Stomach
• J-shaped muscular bag that stores the food you
eat, breaks it down into tiny pieces.
• Both mechanical and chemical digestion occur.
• Mixes food with digestive juices that contain
enzymes to break down Proteins and Lipids.
• Acid (HCl) in the stomach kills Bacteria.
• Food found in the stomach is called Chyme.
Parts of the stomach
Small intestine
• Small intestines are roughly 7 meters long
• Made up of three segments — the
duodenum, jejunum, and ileum
• Lining of intestine walls has finger-like
projections called villi, to increase surface
area.
• The villi are covered in microvilli which
further increases surface area for
absorption.
• Nutrients from the food pass into the bloodstream through the
small intestine walls.
• Absorbs:
– Vitamins
– Minerals
– Carbohydrates
– Proteins
– Lipids
Large Intestine
• About 1.5 meters long
• Subdivided into the cecum and the ascending,
transverse, descending and sigmoid colon sections
• Produce Vit K and some B vitamins with the help of
normal flora that lives here
• Accepts what small intestines don’t absorb
• Rectum (short term storage which holds feces

before it is expelled).
Large Intestine
• Functions
– Bacterial digestion
• Ferment carbohydrates
–Absorbs more water
– Concentrate wastes
Accessory organs of the GIT
• Not part of the path of food,

but play a critical role.
Liver
• Directly affects digestion by producing bile. Bile helps to digest
fat.
• Filters out toxins and waste including drugs and alcohol and
poisons.
Gall Bladder
• Stores bile from the liver, releases

it into the small intestine.
• Fatty diets can cause gallstones

Pancreas
• Produces digestive
enzymes to digest fats,
carbohydrates and proteins
• Regulates blood sugar by

producing insulin
Common conditions and disorders of the GIT
Gastritis
• Stomach inflammation.
• Caused by bacterial and viral infections, excessive and heavy alcohol
usage, chronic smoking, long-term usage of some drugs.

Gastric ulcers
• Also known as stomach ulcers.
• Erosion in stomach’s lining that can lead to pain and bleeding.
• Open sores
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)
• Ulcers (sores) in either stomach or the first portion of small intestine
(duodenum).
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• When stomach contents travel up to esophagus, causing heartburn
or blood coughing.
• Stomach cancer: When cancerous cells grow uncontrollably
in stomach.
• Indigestion (dyspepsia): Discomfort, pain or burning in the upper
stomach.
• Constipation: bowel movements become less frequent and
stools become difficult to pass
• Diarrhea: loose, watery and possibly more-frequent bowel

movements
Let’s Summarize
• Digestive System?
• Major organs?
• Accessory organs?
• Functions of the GIT?
• Parts?
• Common conditions of GIT?
Any questions?

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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

MS. UMANDA GANEGODA (B.Sc. (HONS) IN NURSING-PERADENIYA)

• At the end of this presentation, you will be able to,

• Identify the GIT

• Identify major and accessory organs of the GIT

• Describe the functions of GIT

• Describe the main processes relating the parts of the GIT

• Discuss common conditions and diseases related to GIT

• Gastrointestinal tract (GI tract/GIT)

• A series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the

mouth to the anus

• Salivary glands • Liver & Gall bladder

• Takes place in the mouth

• Segmentation (mixing) Movements

Peristalsis movements &

• Refers the to the breakdown of food in the mouth, stomach and

intestines through the use of acids and enzymes.

through the mucous membrane.

• Epiglottis is a flap-like structure at the back of the throat that closes

2. Moves food from the throat to the stomach using muscle

• Accepts what small intestines don’t absorb

• Rectum (short term storage which holds feces

• Not part of the path of food,

• Stores bile from the liver, releases

• Fatty diets can cause gallstones

• Regulates blood sugar by

• Caused by bacterial and viral infections, excessive and heavy alcohol

usage, chronic smoking, long-term usage of some drugs.

• Also known as stomach ulcers.

• Erosion in stomach’s lining that can lead to pain and bleeding.

• When stomach contents travel up to esophagus, causing heartburn

• Constipation: bowel movements become less frequent and

stools become difficult to pass

• Diarrhea: loose, watery and possibly more-frequent bowel

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