DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: Gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and liver CU Boulder

Define alimentary canal (also called gastrointestinal tract), naming its organs and distinguishing it from the accessory digestive organs.

Alimentary canal: structures that form a long tube which breaks down food (takes approx. 24 hrs.) from ingestion to defecation Organs associated: 1) Mouth (oral cavity) 2) Pharynx 3) Esophagus 4) Stomach 5) Small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) 6) Large intestine Accessory digestive organs: participate in the digestive process but food does not pass through these structures 1) tongue 2) salivary glands 3) liver 4) gallbladder 5) pancreas

Define the six essential food-processing activities that occur during digestion: ingestion, propulsion, mechanical digestion, chemical digestion, absorption, and defecation.

Ingestion: put food into mouth Propulsion: movement of food through canal swallowing => voluntary peristalsis => involuntary Mechanical digestion: physical breakdown of food particles chewing, churning, and segmentation Chemical digestion: enzymes break down food particles Absorption: particles (sugars, fatty acids, etc.) transported from canal into blood and lymph capillaries Defecation: indigestible products eliminated from body as feces