digestive+system+notes


 * they digestive system
 * starts in your mouth
 * is a tube that is about 20 feet long
 * lined by a layer of cells that are a barrier between whats in the body and what in the tube
 * they have the job of digesting the food that you need and passing the food you dont need
 * stuff in the tube is not considered a part of you until it passes the barrier of cells and enters you- it may never be a part of you
 * its like a tunnel that runs through your body- lined with cells that are trying to digest and absorb the food- and some inst absorbed and then you release it
 * you need microscopic food pieces for the food to be digest
 * sugar can be absorbed in your mouth chemically
 * the food goes down the tube- then enters the stomach
 * there is acid in your stomach
 * the acid is a "muscle" it causes mechanical break down of the food... they slosh the food around and help to break it down more
 * still not to the point where you can digest it
 * protein is small enough to be digested in your stomach
 * the small intestines
 * where the food is broken down small enough to be absorbed
 * where the chemical digestion occurs
 * the food is absorbed here
 * is very thin
 * large intestine
 * wide in diameter but shorter than the small intestine
 * the food that the small intestine doesn't want is left in the large intestine
 * friendly bacteria in the large intestine eats the food that the small intestine doesn't want
 * the fiber is still unable to be eaten by the bacteria
 * water is absorbed from the food that cant be absorbed in the large intestine
 * when water isnt absorbed you have diarrhea
 * when the water is absorbed it becomes harder
 * the water is not absorbed until the large intestine- if it isnt absorbed and just exists you can get dehydrated