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Basic Function of the Digestive System
The general purpose of the human digestive system is to break down food particles for absorption. There are several ways the digestive system accomplishes this task. First, it mixes and reduces the size of ingested food through mechanical processes. Second, it secretes compounds and enzymes that help break down food and aid in the absorption of water. Lastly, it absorbs nutrients, electrolytes, and water directly from the intestinal lumen into the bloodstream.
Anatomy of the Digestive System
Figure 1 shows the anatomy of the digestive system. There are two main components – the alimentary canal, also called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the accessory organs. The GI tract is a tube that carries food throughout the body for digestion and absorption. It starts with the mouth and progresses to the esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and ends with the anus.
The other digestive system component, the accessory organs, secrete compounds that aid in the digestion of food particles. These organs include the salivary glands, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The salivary glands produce saliva, which contains enzymes and proteins that start the chemical digestion process. The liver has many functions, including the production of bile, detoxification of harmful substances, the storage of glycogen, and gluconeogenesis. The pancreas has both exocrine and endocrine functions. The endocrine role of the pancreas is to produce the hormones insulin and glucagon, in order to regulate blood glucose concentrations. The exocrine role of the pancreas is to release digestive juices, including enzymes that break down molecules for absorption. Lastly, the gallbladder functions to store and release bile for digestion.
