The digestive system has a special place in the human body. It is with the help of it that food is digested, the useful components necessary to maintain life are assimilated. The well-being of the whole organism depends on how well it works. What organs does the digestive system consist of and what are their functions? This is worth looking into in more detail.
Functions
In the human body, nature does not provide anything superfluous. Each of its components has a certain responsibility. Through coordinated work, the well-being of the body is ensured and he alth is maintained.
The functions of the digestive system are as follows:
- Motor-mechanical. This includes grinding, moving and excreting food.
- Secretory. There is a production of enzymes, saliva, digestive juices, bile, which take part in digestion.
- Suction. Ensures the body's absorption of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, minerals, water and vitamins.
The motor-mechanical function is to contract muscles and grind food, as well as mixing and moving it. Secretory work consists in the production of digestive juices by glandular cells. Thanks to the suction function, the supply of nutrients to the lymph and blood is ensured.
Building
What is the structure of the human digestive system? Its structure is aimed at the processing and movement of useful components that enter the body from the outside, as well as the removal of unnecessary substances into the environment. The walls of the organs of the digestive system consist of four layers. From the inside they are lined with a mucous membrane. It moisturizes the walls of the canal and promotes easier passage of food. Below it is the submucosa. Thanks to its numerous folds, the surface of the alimentary canal becomes larger. The submucosa is permeated with nerve plexuses, lymphatic and blood vessels. The remaining two layers are the outer and inner muscle membranes.
The digestive system consists of the following organs:
- oral cavity:
- esophagus and pharynx;
- stomach;
- large intestine;
- small intestine;
- digestive glands.
To understand their work, you need to look at each in more detail.
Oral cavity
At the first stage, food enters the mouth, where it is processed. The teeth perform the function of grinding, the tongue, thanks to the tastereceptors located on it, evaluates the quality of incoming products. Then the salivary glands begin to produce special enzymes for wetting and primary breakdown of food. After processing in the oral cavity, it enters further into the internal organs, the digestive system continues its work.
The muscles that take part in the chewing process can also be attributed to this department.
Esophagus and pharynx
Food enters the funnel-shaped cavity, which consists of muscle fibers. It is this structure that the pharynx has. With it, a person swallows food, after which it moves through the esophagus, and then enters the main organs of the human digestive system.
Stomach
Mixing and splitting of food takes place in this organ. The stomach in appearance is a muscular bag. Inside it is hollow, the volume is up to 2 liters.
Its inner surface contains many glands, thanks to which juice and hydrochloric acid are produced, which are necessary for the digestion process. They break down food ingredients and help them move forward.
Small intestine
What organs does the digestive system consist of besides the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach? Bypassing them, food enters the duodenum - the initial section of the small intestine. Food is broken down under the influence of bile and special juices, and then passes into the next sections of the small intestine - the jejunum and ileum.
Here substances are broken downfinally, microelements, vitamins and other useful components are absorbed into the blood. Its length is approximately six meters. The small intestine fills the abdominal cavity. The absorption process occurs under the influence of special villi that cover the mucous membrane. Thanks to a special valve, a so-called damper is formed, which stops the reverse movement of feces.
Large intestine
The human digestive system is very important in the body. What organs it consists of, you need to know to understand its functions. Answering this question, it is worth pointing out another, no less important department, in which the digestion process is completed. This is the large intestine. It is in it that all undigested food residues fall. Here, water is absorbed and feces are formed, the final breakdown of proteins and the microbiological synthesis of vitamins (in particular, groups B and K).
Structure of the large intestine
The length of the organ is approximately one and a half meters. It consists of the following departments:
- caecum (appendix present);
- colon (it, in turn, includes the ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid;
- rectum (it consists of an ampoule and anus).
The large intestine ends with an anus through which processed food is excreted from the body.
Digestive glands
What organs doesdigestive system? Great responsibility lies with the liver, pancreas and gallbladder. Without them, the process of digestion, in principle, as well as without other organs, would be impossible.
The liver contributes to the production of an important component - bile. The main function of bile is to emulsify fats. The organ is located under the diaphragm, on the right side. The tasks of the liver include the retention of harmful substances, which helps to avoid poisoning the body. Thus, it is a kind of filter, therefore it often suffers from a large accumulation of toxins.
The gallbladder is a reservoir for bile produced by the liver.
The pancreas secretes special enzymes that can break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates. It is known that it is able to form up to 1.5 liters of juice per day. The pancreas also produces insulin (a peptide hormone). It affects metabolism in almost all tissues.
Among the digestive glands, it is necessary to note the salivary glands, which are located in the oral cavity, they secrete substances for softening food and its primary breakdown.
What is the threat of malfunctioning of the digestive system?
Clear, well-coordinated work of organs ensures the proper functioning of the whole organism. But violations of the digestive process, unfortunately, are not uncommon. This threatens the emergence of various diseases, among which the leading place is occupied bygastritis, esophagitis, ulcers, dysbacteriosis, intestinal obstruction, poisoning, etc. In the event of such ailments, it is necessary to take timely treatment, otherwise, as a result of delays in the supply of nutrients to the blood, the work of other organs may be disrupted. Do not use traditional methods without consulting a doctor. Non-traditional medicines are used only in combination with medications and under the supervision of a medical professional.
To understand the whole principle of functioning, it is necessary to know what organs the digestive system consists of. This will help to better understand the problem when it occurs and find a way to solve it. The presented scheme is simple, only the main points are affected. In fact, the human digestive system is much more complex.
