Purpose and Function of the Human Digestive System (Essay Sample)

DIGESTION AND ABSORPTION
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Introduction
Digestion is a process of digesting large insoluble molecules of food into small soluble molecules of food such that they are easily absorbed into the blood plasma that is watery in nature. Digestion is a process comprising of two processes basically showing how food is broken down. These two processes are the chemical process and mechanical process of digestion. In our digestive system, digestion starts in our mouths by the action of chewing that is a mechanical process of digestion. After mechanical digestion, Chemical digestion occurs where food is digested by enzymes into small pieces that are readily consumable by the body.
Purpose and Function of the Human Digestive System
The major purpose of digestion is to manufacture nutrients for our body. The body then utilizes these nutrients for growth, energy, and cell repair in order for us to survive. The food we eat may be in the form of proteins, starch, fats, fibre and sugar. Through digestion, these foods are turned into nutrients through various enzymes contained in various organs in the digestive system. The enzymes may include trypsin, pepsin, and chymotrypsin.
The system of digestion also creates wastes that are meant to be removed out of the body. The waste material that is stored as feces is removed by defecation through the anus and anal canal.
The Digestive Tract
The digestive tract is consists of a series of organs that helps in digestion. It starts in the mouth and ends in the anus as a long twisting tube. The digestive tract consists of cells that produce hormones and enzymes that help in food digestion and a muscle series that coordinate the food movement. In the digestive tract, there consist other three organs that aid in the digestion of food. These organs are the liver, pancreas and gallbladder.
Components of the Digestive System
The mouth, esophagus, tongue, colon, villi, stomach and rectum are the major components of this system. The mouth is where food is broken down by teeth and saliva into small molecules. The esophagus moves food into the stomach while in the stomach, stomach acids and bile mixes so as to digest food but very little absorption of nutrients takes place at this stage. In the villus food in the form of liquid mush is absorbed and in the large intestine water is absorbed and fecal matter is pushed out. The rectum releases the solid waste.
Mechanical and Chemical Digestion
Mechanical aspect of digestion is the physical digestion of large food particles to small ones so that they are easily accessible by enzymes involved in digestion. Chewing of food is the main method of mechanical digestion. For example when we chew pizza this is a form of mechanical digestion.
Chemical digestion on the other hand refers to the way that enzymes digests food into tiny molecules that are ready to use by the body.
Difference between Chemical and Mechanical Digestion
Mechanical aspect of digestion is the process where huge particles of food are physically digested into micro pieces such as through chewing in the mouth. Chemical aspect of digestion is a process where food is chemically digested into some subatomic particles. The process starts in the mouth with saliva and continues through the small intestine. Chemical break down of food is a chemical process while mechanical digestion is a physical method of digestion.
Role of Enzymes and other Gastric Fluids in digestion
Pepsin and trypsin aids in digestion of protein by breaking them down into polypeptides. Amino acids are later formed by dipeptidases and exopeptidases through breaking down of polypeptides. Lingual lipase in the mouth also helps in fats digestion by changing lipids to diglycerides .The pancreas produces pancreatic lipase while the liver produces bile which helps in the emulsification of fats for ease of fatty acids absorption. A complete breakdown of a triglyceride produc