Jane Doe: The Six Steps Of The Digestive System

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The digestive system is one of the most important parts of the human body because it is the way that we are able to absorb all the nutrients that we need in order to survive. Jane Doe is a diabetic who just had a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomatoes, with a side of potato chips and apple juice to drink. This may not have been the best decision because of her disease. As we explore the six steps of the digestive system we will learn why not. The digestive system consists of six steps starting at the mouth and ending at the large intestine. The saliva in the mouth is produced when you smell or see food and more is produced when you taste the food. The saliva helps to begin the process of digestion by …show more content…

The pharynx is also known as the throat. In this step the tongue helps to form the food into a ball and push it down the back of the throat and into the esophagus (Robinson, 2014). The third step in the digestive system involves the esophagus. In this step the food move through the esophagus by a process called peristalsis. The esophagus is a long muscular tube that goes from the pharynx to the stomach. Peristalsis is when the esophagus muscles contact and relax pushing the food through the esophagus and down into the stomach (Robinson, 2014). Once in the stomach, step four starts to work. The stomach is specially designed to expand and compress to accommodate food. The stomach walls are similar to elastic which allows it to stretch out and hold as much as one half gallon of food. By being able to hold that much food, it allows us to go a few hours without eating any food and gives out body time to digest the food that we have just eaten. Not only does the stomach hold the food until it is ready to be digested but it also mixes and grinds the food up. While the stomach mixes and grinds the food it also secrets acid and powerful enzymes that continue to breakdown the food changing it to a paste like liquid. Once the food is a paste like liquid, it is ready for the next step of the digestive system (2012, Pg. …show more content…

The small intestine consists of about twenty feet of tubing that winds about itself to form the small intestine. The first foot of the small intestine is called the duodenum. This is where the majority of the digestion takes place. The pasty liquid moves from the stomach and into the duodenum where the paste is mixed with enzymes and chime. The duodenum also receives digestive juices from the pancreas and bile from the liver. Once the food comes out of the duodenum, it is ready to be absorbed into the blood vessels and used for various purposes throughout the body. The next part of the small intestine where the food get absorbed into the body is called the epithelium. The epithelium is similar to a fluffy towel in that it has large folds and it also has small finger-like outgrowths where the nutrients are grabbed and transported into the blood vessels. Whatever is not absorbed in the small intestine then move into the large intestine (2012, Pg.

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