Functions of Digestive System Organs
Salivary Glands (accessory organ [not digestive organ] during food processing)
(3 types of salivary glands: parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands). Functions: 1. Produces salivary amylase (digestive enzyme) Helps with carb digestion
Oral Cavity
(mouth, tongue, and teeth) Functions: 1. Site of physical digestion (tearing apart food) 2. Chemical digestion (when you start to bring in the digestive enzymes)
Pharynx
(throat) Functions: 1. Connects oral cavity to esophagus
Rectum
Functions: 1. Stores fecal matter (solid waste).
Pepsin
the chief digestive enzyme in the stomach, which breaks down proteins into polypeptides.
Anus
Functions: 1. Excretes solid waste from the body
Large Intestine with Appendix
Functions: 1. Last site of absorption 2. First site of elimination 3. (L.Intest.): a. absorbs water b. c. forms solid waste d. makes vitamins for the body 4. (Appen.): (immune system function) Attached to Large Intestine. Appendix produces mucus.
Small Intestine
Functions: 1. Last site of chemical digestion 2. First site of absorption 3. Breaks down everything that isn't already broken down 4. Absorbs nutrients and proteins (?)
Liver (accessory organ [not digestive organ] during food processing)
Functions: 1. Produces bile. Biles is lipid digester, fat digester.
Pancreas (accessory organ [not digestive organ] during food processing)
Functions: 1. Releases the following digestive enzymes into the small intestine to finish off chemical digestion: a. Sodium bicarbonate (acid neutralizer) b. Trypsin and chymotrypsin help digest protein c. Pancreatic lipase digests fats d. Pancreatic amylase digests carbs e. Nuclease digests nucleic acids (DNA/RNA)
Stomach
Functions: 1. Site of chemical digestion 2. Secretes hydrochloric acid (HCI) 3. Secretes pepsin 4. Produces acid chyme (end result of stomach acid mixing with food = liquefied food).
Gall Bladder (accessory organ [not digestive organ] during food processing)
Functions: 1. Stores Bile. Bile is released when eating fatty foods to help digest the food.
Esophagus
Functions: 1. Takes food from mouth to stomach (its a smooth muscle. it contracts and moves the food down)