Digestive+period+1

The major parts of the digestive system are the **mouth, esophogus, stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, and large intestine.** Digestion begins at the mouth. We experience our 5 senses there while we eat and with the help of our saliva our food softens making it easier to swallow, and this is where we use our pharynx. Our epiglottis closes the windpipe when we swallow so food doesn't cause us to chock. Next, the food travels down the esophagus which is a muscular tube that travels through the chest connecting to the stomach (at the lower esophageal sphincter) where your food will go. The stomach will then churn and mix the food, and break it up with the help of special enzymes that are in our stomach acid. Then, the small intestines will start off at the duodenum, then the jejunum and end with the ileum. The nutrients beginning to be absorbed into the bloodstream here. The liver has a bile in it which absorbs fat, and has nutrients carried to it from the blood from the small intestine. Your pancreas produces enzymes that will disgest proteins, fats and carbs. It'll also neutralize acid. Finally, the food makes it to your large intestine where the excess water will be removed from the undigested matter and to form solid waste to be removed. Food is broken down in the **mouth**, the **stomach** and the **small intestine**. Food is absorbed in the stomach, small and large intestine. Minor digestion of **carbs** is in the stomach. They are broken down into smaller chains and then finally into disacharides and monosacharides. **Lipids** get broken down in the liver and gallbladder by bile salts. **Proteins** are broken down in the pancreas. They are broken down into amino acids by peptidases.
 * GERD** stands for [|gastroeophgeal reflux disorder], or it's also known as acid reflux more commonly. **GERD** is when acid from the stomach rises up to the esophagus causing heart burn or other symptoms including vomitting. It happens when the part in your body that holds the stomach closed (lower esophageal sphincter) is too relaxed, or when it is pinched causing a **//hiatal hernia//** and causing the stomach acid to rise up accidently. This can be a temporary or permanent thing and is usually treated by antiacids.
 * Major functions** of digestive system are **ingestion** (taking food in mouth), **digestion** (chemical break down of food), **absorption** (food passes through intestinal wall into the blood system) and **elimination** (removal of digested waste).

The structure of **microvilli** in your small intestine provides an advantage on its function. The microvilli are tiny, hairlike structures on the surface of cells in your small intestine, their job is to help absorb nutrients into the body from digested food, and its shape helps increase the surface area inside the small intestie. media type="youtube" key="Z7xKYNz9AS0" height="349" width="425" align="right"

**WHAT IS GAS? ** **Gas is caused by the breakdown of foods in the stomach, or by swallowing air. The breakdown of foods produces hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane. People typically pass gas about 20 times a day! **

**TRIVIA FACTS! **

**Additional Works Cited: ** **[] **
 * **Over 90% of digestion takes place in the Small Intestines. **
 * **Every 2 weeks the stomach produces a new mucous lining or else it will digest itself. **
 * **The stomach produces 2.5 liters of gastric juice per day. **
 * **It takes 8 seconds for food to travel down the food pipe and into the stomach. **
 * **An adult stomach can hold 1 liter of food. **

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