2 main purposes of the digestive system
◆ Break down food into simple substances for absorption
◆ Eliminate wastes from the body
alimentary canal
◆ Entire pathway that food travels
◆ Mouth, esophagus, stomach, small/large intestines
GI tract consists of
stomach and intestines
uncoiled length of the intestines
30 ft
pancreas location
Extends horizontally across the
posterior abdominal wall
◆ In the C-shaped curve of the duodenum
the pancreas is a
endocrine and exocrine gland
exocrine function of the pancreas
Secretes digestive
pancreatic juice & Facilitates digestion
endocrine function of the pancreas
Regulates blood
sugar
liver location
Lies in the upper right quadrant of the abdominal cavity, slightly
inferior to the diaphragm
hepatic lobules
The functional units of the liver
liver functions
◆ Most important: Protein Metabolism
◆ Synthesizes lipoproteins, phospholipids, cholesterol
◆ Helps maintain blood glucose concentration
◆ Oxidizes fatty acids
◆ Stores vitamins, iron, glycogen
gallbladder location
Lies in a depression on the liver’s inferior surface
function of the gallbladder
It stores bile between meals
◆Contracts to release bile into the small intestine
◆Reabsorbs water to concentrate bile
emulsification
Bile salts aid digestive enzymes & break down fat globules into
smaller droplets
symptoms of digestive disorders
Bleeding, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn,
incontinence, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, weight changes
esophageal varices
Dilated varicose veins in the esophagus
esophageal varices is caused by
high pressure
symptoms of esophageal varices
vomiting of blood, black stools
hiatal hernia
A sliding of part of the stomach into the chest cavity through
the hole in the diaphragm
where the esophagus passes to the stomach
diaphragm
- part of the stomach is past the diaphragm
hiatal hernia occurs more often
in older patients due to weakening of the
cardiac sphincter
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Inflammation of tissue at the lower end of the
esophagus
GERD is caused by
backflow of stomach acid through the
cardiac sphincter
GERD causes a
burning sensation in the epigastric area
(Heartburn)