Learning Outcomes
i. Identify the structures within the alimentary canal and associated organs.
ii. Describe the functions of these structures in processing food.
Summary of Lesson
This lesson takes us on an enlightening voyage through the alimentary canal, the pathway food traverses in our bodies. We'll uncover the critical stages food undergoes, including ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion, and learn about the specific parts of the body responsible for each process.
i. The Alimentary Canal and Digestive Process
Mouth: The entrance of the alimentary canal where ingestion occurs, and digestion begins with chewing and saliva.
Pharynx and Esophagus: These act as the passageway for food to enter the stomach.
Stomach: A muscular chamber that uses acids and enzymes for digestion.
Small Intestine: The organ where most absorption of nutrients occurs.
Large Intestine: It absorbs water and electrolytes, creating solid waste.
Rectum and Anus: The final section of the alimentary canal, where egestion happens.
ii. Associated Digestive Organs
Salivary Glands: Produce saliva that contains enzymes to start breaking down food.
Liver: Processes nutrients absorbed from the small intestine and produces bile.
Gallbladder: Stores bile from the liver, releasing it into the small intestine.
Pancreas: Produces enzymes that assist in digesting carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the small intestine.
List of Important Questions for Self-Study
i. How do the mouth and salivary glands prepare food for digestion?
ii. What is the role of the stomach in the digestive system?
iii. How are nutrients absorbed in the small intestine?
iv. What processes occur in the large intestine?
v. What roles do the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas play in digestion?
Important Terminologies Used in Lesson
i. Ingestion: The intake of food into the body through the mouth.
ii. Digestion: The mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into smaller components.
iii. Absorption: The process by which nutrients from digested food are taken up by the bloodstream from the intestine.
iv. Assimilation: The conversion of absorbed nutrients into the body's own tissues.
v. Egestion: The elimination of indigestible waste from the body.
