The Digestive System Essay, Research Paper

Every living human cell needs oxygen and nutrients to survive. The oxygen and nutrients gives the cells energy containing molecules and raw materials necessary for growth, repair, and reproduction and the production of new substances. Living organisms get nutrients from the foods they eat. It’s important for any organism to get nutrients so they have energy to use.

The Digestive System is a system that prepares food particles for their entry into the bloodstream. Digestion involves breaking organtic compounds into simple soluble substances absorbable by tissues. It also includes both mechanical and chemical processes. The mechanical processes includes chewing and reduce food into small particles. These forces move through the digestive track and mix it with various secretions. There are three chemical reactions that take place. They are the conversion of carbohydrates into simple sugars like glucose, breaking down of protein into amio acids, and the conversion of fats into fatty acids. These processes are accomplished by enzymes.

Digestion begins at the mouth. This is where the food breaks down with the help of the Salivary Gland. After the food is chewed and softened, it then is swallowed and moves through the Pharynx and then enters the esophagus. The esophagus is a long muscular tube that extends through the neck and thoracic cavity and penetrates the diaphragm just before it joins the stomach. The food is then converted into a liquid mixture and the protein digestion begins with the help of enzymes. After the food is liquefied, it passes into the long, twisting small intestine. The liver and gallbladder give the small intestine a greenish yellow liquid that is also known as bile, which helps with the digestion of fats. The liver also helps with the removal of nutrients from the bloodstream and changes these nutrients to chemical energy. These nutrients are then returned into the bloodstream so they can be distributed through the body. The pancreas aids the digestion of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. A primary site for absorption into the bloodstream is the small intestine. All the material that is not absorbed by the small intestines goes through the large intestines. Then the water is removed and returned to the bloodstream. And the solid material is eliminated from the body by passing through the opening of the anus.

The digestive system is important because every cell in our body needs oxygen and nutrients and with out the process of digestion this would not be possible. It’s very important to eat healthy so your body will beable to function and use the energy.