Dorothy FarrarDigestive tract
The term digestive tract includes all organs that serve to absorb, break down and break down food. The digestive tract includes digestive organs such as the oral cavity , pharynx , esophagus , stomach , small intestine , large intestine , liver and pancreas .
Definition
The gastrointestinal tract forms the largest part of the digestive tract. It is also known as the gastrointestinal tract. The liver with the bile ducts and the pancreas lie outside of this gastrointestinal tract.
However, since they produce important enzymes and secretions for digestion, they are also part of the digestive tract. The breakdown of food and the absorption of the individual food components takes place in the digestive system. Digestive disorders occur with diseases of the digestive tract.
Anatomy
The upper digestive tract begins with the oral cavity (carvum oris). This consists of the lips , the oral cavity , the teeth and the tongue . The salivary glands are also located in the oral cavity.
The throat (pharynx) is the transition from the mouth to the esophagus. Also known as the esophagus, this connects the upper and lower digestive tracts. The muscular tube, about 25 centimeters long, opens into the stomach. The stomach is divided into the gastric inlet, the gastric fundus, the gastric body and the pylorus.
The pylorus , the so-called pylorus, represents the connection to the small intestine. The bile duct opens into the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum . This usually runs together with the pancreatic duct, a duct that runs from the pancreas into the duodenum. The duodenum merges seamlessly into the jejunum, before the small intestine then ends with the ileum .
The large intestine (colon) is attached to the ileum. Below the opening of the small intestine is the blind part of the large intestine. It is also known as the appendix. The large intestine ascends towards the liver and then curves across the upper abdomen. He then descends on the left side towards the anus .
The digestive tract ends with the anus. The upper abdomen also contains the liver and pancreas. The liver is located in the right upper abdomen below the diaphragm . The pancreas is located between the stomach and intestines and is divided into the head, body and tail.
Function
The main task of the digestive tract is to break down the nutrients ingested with food and make them available to the body.
Digestion begins in the oral cavity. The food is first broken up mechanically with the teeth and made slippery with the saliva . The saliva also contains a starch-splitting enzyme so that carbohydrate digestion starts in the mouth. The chyme is then swallowed and passes through the throat into the esophagus. It transports the pulp to the stomach. There, the gastric juice containing hydrochloric acid initiates the further breakdown of the food.
By contracting the stomach muscles, the chyme is kneaded and delivered to the small intestine in small portions. Here the stomach acid is first neutralized and then the food is broken down with other digestive enzymes from the liver and pancreas. The bile acids are primarily responsible for fat emulsification. The enzymes of the pancreas serve to digest fat, carbohydrates and proteins.
The split food components are then absorbed through the mucous membrane of the small intestine. The remaining chyme then enters the large intestine through wavy movements. This is where water and nutrients are absorbed. The intestinal flora in the large intestine breaks down fiber.
In this way, the mucous membrane of the large intestine is supplied with nutrients. This is a basic requirement for healthy digestion. The now unusable food components reach the rectum via further rhythmic waves. From there they are excreted through the anus.
Diseases
Diseases of the digestive tract can manifest themselves in a variety of symptoms. The most common digestive problems are diarrhea, constipation and gas.
Constipation is when you can have a bowel movement fewer than three times a week. There is painful defecation and a feeling of fullness and pressure in the upper abdomen. Possible causes include medications, lack of exercise, thyroid dysfunction, lack of fluid intake, or a low-fiber diet.
Diarrhea is frequent passing of stools with loose or mushy stools. Acute diarrhea often occurs in combination with nausea and abdominal pain . The most common causes of diarrhea are germs and pathogens. Bacterial infections are caused by pathogens such as salmonella or E. coli bacteria.
Viral diarrheal diseases are usually based on an infection with rotaviruses or noroviruses . But various drugs, irritable bowel syndrome , chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, hyperthyroidism or food allergies can also lead to diarrhea.
Flatulence is a distension of the abdomen caused by accumulations of gas and the associated increased discharge of these gases. The most common reason for bloating is a bloating diet. Foods such as fruit, cabbage, legumes or carbonated drinks can cause flatulence. But irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance or organic diseases of the digestive tract can also lead to flatulence.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.