Name two organs in the digestive system and how they help the system do its job.
Two organs in the digestive system are the stomach and the small intestine.
1. Stomach: The stomach is responsible for the storage, mixing, and breakdown of food. It secretes gastric juices, including hydrochloric acid and enzymes, which help to break down proteins and convert food into chyme. The stomach's muscular walls contract to churn and mix the food, aiding in the mechanical digestion process.
2. Small Intestine: The small intestine is primarily involved in the absorption of nutrients from food. It receives partially digested food (chyme) from the stomach and further breaks it down using enzymes produced by the pancreas and small intestine itself. The inner lining of the small intestine has finger-like projections called villi, which provide an increased surface area for absorption. Nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals are absorbed into the bloodstream through the villi, ensuring their distribution to the body's cells for energy and other functions.
Two organs in the digestive system are the stomach and the small intestine.
1. Stomach:
The stomach is a muscular organ that helps break down food ingested into smaller particles. It does so by using its muscle contractions to mix and churn the food with digestive juices, such as hydrochloric acid and enzymes, creating a semi-liquid substance called chyme. The stomach also sterilizes the food by killing most of the bacteria present.
2. Small Intestine:
The small intestine is the longest part of the digestive system and is responsible for the majority of food digestion and nutrient absorption. It further breaks down the chyme received from the stomach using digestive enzymes released by its walls and enzymes from the pancreas and liver. The small intestine has specialized structures called villi and microvilli, which increase its surface area, allowing for efficient absorption of nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, into the bloodstream.
Two organs in the digestive system are the stomach and the small intestine. The stomach helps in the digestion process by mixing and churning food with its gastric juices, including hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes. This acidic environment breaks down food into smaller particles and helps kill microorganisms. The stomach also plays a crucial role in the initial breakdown of proteins.
The small intestine is responsible for the majority of digestion and absorption of nutrients. It receives partially digested food from the stomach and further breaks it down using enzymes produced by the liver and pancreas. The inner lining of the small intestine is covered in tiny finger-like projections called villi, which greatly increase the surface area for absorption. These villi absorb nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins, and transport them into the bloodstream for distribution throughout the body.