Digestive System Flashcards
What are the organs of digestion?
Stomach Small Intestine Large Intestine Liver Gallbladder Pancreas
What is the physiological process of digestion?
The throat and the esophagus transport the food from the mouth to the stomach. Food is then moved in small amounts and at regular intervals into the small intestine.
The small intestine continues the mechanical activities that mix the food particles with intestinal juice and propels it forward. Intestinal juices contain secretions from the glands of the small intestine and the large accessory digestive glands - the pancreas and liver. All absorption of chemically digested food takes place in the small intestine across the inner lining transporting it to the liver. From the liver the nutrients flow through the bloodstream to the rest of the body.
The large intestine separates the waste products from any nutrients that are left that can be recycled by the body. The waste products are whatever is left and is moved through the large intestine into the rectum and is expelled through the anus.
What pranayama practices support digestion?
Kapalabhati and Bhastrika - massage the organs of digestion and increase the function of peristalsis
What postures support digestion?
Standing asana - Massages the digestive organs
Spine twists - Squeeze and soak
Forward Bends - Massages the digestive organs
Back bends - Massage and tone organs
Lateral flexion - Massage and tone organs
Inversions - Stimulates a stronger peristalsis, allows food in the ascending colon to move with gravity
Savasana - Brings the body into a rest and digest state
What two poses can be practiced after eating?
Vajrasana - Sitting on heels
Virasana - Hero Pose
What vayu is related to digestion?
Samana Vayu is responsible for moving food downwards
What asana are therapeutic for Constipation?
Forward folds and twists
Who came up with the Squeeze and Soak theory?
BKS Iyengar
What is the Squeeze and Soak theory?
The idea is that, when you twist, you create a wringing action, removing stale blood from the digestive organs and allowing a freshly oxygenated supply to flow in
