1. How does the food change in consistency and form?
The digestive system orchestrates a dynamic process that modifies the consistency and form of food. Food first becomes solid and then breaks down mechanically into smaller, easier-to-chew pieces in the mouth during the chewing process. Saliva simultaneously causes chemical changes that start the breakdown of carbs. The food that has been chewed and is now called bolus travels from the esophagus to the stomach, where it is further broken down mechanically by peristalsis and chemically by the gastric juices. When these processes come together inside the stomach, chyme a semi-liquid mixture is created. The trip continues into the small intestine, where pancreatic enzymes and bile aid in the chemical breakdown of carbs, proteins, and lipids to make them soluble. The large intestine concentrates on water reabsorption, hardening the residual material into stools, while the small intestine's complex architecture, with its villi and microvilli, improves nutritional absorption. The body absorbs nutrients in a form that is appropriate for absorption, use, and final excretion thanks to this well arranged symphony of mechanical and chemical transformations.
2. How could the body absorb the nutrients from the foods we eat?
The digestive system is essential to the body's remarkable capacity to absorb nutrients from our food. The majority of absorption occurs in the small intestine's inner lining, which possesses projections called villi and microvilli that resemble fingers. The amount of surface area that may be used to absorb nutrients is greatly increased by these projections. Chyme, or partially digested food, travels through this region and comes into contact with pancreatic enzymes and bile from the liver. Additionally, these chemicals break down proteins into amino acids, carbs into simple sugars, and lipids into glycerol and fatty acids. These vital nutrients are more easily absorbed into the bloodstream due to the intricate interplay between these enzymes and the absorbent surfaces of the gut lining. The body then uses nutrients to fuel cells, support growth, and keep everyone healthy. The body's capacity to obtain and utilize the essential building blocks from food for the several physiological functions it carries out depends on this absorption process.