Tag: Stomach

Introduction

The digestive system is made up of organs that digest food, assimilate its nutrients, and eliminate any leftover waste. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which connects the mouth to the anus, is essentially a long, continuous tube. For a variety of harmful bacteria, the alimentary canal serves as an immunological barrier. Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and the various pH conditions that exist throughout the alimentary canal perform this role.

What is the Alimentary Canal?

Because of their complicated body plans, humans have a digestive tract with two openings: a mouth at one end and an anus at the other. The food material travels in a single path along the alimentary canal as it passes through several specialised organs. The Alimentary Canal is a similar tube whose main purpose is to facilitate food particle circulation and ultimately assist in nourishment.

Check out online study options are a great way to clear the science concepts you need. Study Science class 7th Lesson 2.

Parts of Alimentary Canal 

Mouth: The mouth, also known as the oral cavity or buccal cavity, where the alimentary canal starts, contains teeth and a tongue that help break down food particles.

Pharynx: It is commonly referred to as the throat area. When food is swallowed, it travels via the pharynx.

Oesophagus: The throat and stomach are connected by a lengthy tube called oesophagus.

Stomach: The stomach is a structure that resembles an extended pouch that is situated between the oesophagus and the small intestine. Here, the food is transformed into a liquid suspension to facilitate absorption.

Small Intestine: As a result of the high rate of nutrient absorption in this area, it is sometimes referred to as the “workhouse” of digestion. It is the Alimentary Canal’s longest section.

Large Intestine: The alimentary canal’s terminus is located here. The “leftovers” in this area are used to absorb water and vital nutrients, which are eventually expelled through the anus

The Structure and Parts of Stomach

• The lower surface of the stomach’s curve to the left and the upper surface to the right is referred to as the lesser and larger curvatures, respectively. 
• The fundus, body, and pylorus are its three parts. The fundus, which is the main part of the stomach, is elevated above the esophageal entrance. 
• The stomach’s body and pylorus are it’s middle and base, respectively. 
• The incisura angularis is the point where the body region and the proximal antrum converge.
• The muscularis mucosa, a thin layer of smooth muscle, is composed of the inner mucus epithelium, a bigger loose connective tissue called laminar propria, and the innermost layer of the gastrointestinal wall, known as the mucosa.
• Connective tissue, blood vessels, alveolar tissue, and Meiisner’s nerve plexus make up the submucosal layer.

Which are the Parts of the Alimentary Canal and What are their Functions?

Parts of Alimentary Canal	Structure	Functions
Buccal Cavity	The vestibule and actual oral cavity make up the mouth.  A hard palate is the roof of the mouth, which divides the nasal cavity from the oral cavity. The muscular tongue has numerous taste buds and covers the base of the mouth. Dentin makes up teeth, which are covered in enamel, the toughest tissue.	Ingestion of food. Tongue helps in producing the sense of taste by detecting chemicals present in food. Teeth chew and grind the food material into smaller pieces. During mastication, incisors are used for cutting the food pieces, canines for tearing, premolars and molars for chewing and grinding.
Pharynx	It is a muscular structure resembling a tube.  It connects to the oesophagus and the trachea, two passages.	Here, swallowing is carefully timed to prevent food particles from entering the trachea.
Oesophagus	It is a muscular, extensible, mucus-coated tube that runs from the pharynx to the stomach.  At each end, a muscular sphincter protects it.	Peristalsis causes the bolus to move toward the stomach. The lower or cardiac sphincter stops food from passing from the stomach back into the oesophagus.
Stomach	Just behind the diaphragm is where the stomach is located. Chief cells, which secrete the enzymes found in gastric juice, parietal cells, which secrete hydrochloric acid, and intrinsic factors, which work in conjunction with vitamin B12 to preserve the lining of the stomach wall, cover the inner surface of the stomach and its glands.	Releases hydrochloric acid, which helps to break down food particles, and activates dormant pepsinogen to produce pepsin, which aids in the breakdown of proteins.  Along with food, it also contributes to bacterial death.
Small Intestine	In the abdominal cavity, the small intestine looks like a lengthy, coiling loop.  There is a brief duodenum section, then the jejunum region, and the longest region, the ileum.  The mucosal layer, which is the small intestine’s innermost layer, is covered in numerous microscopic folds known as villi.  The vermiform appendix, a structure that resembles a worm and is located at the back of the small intestine, has no known physiological function.	The small intestine’s surface area is increased by microvilli, which improves food absorption.  In the small intestine, the presence of secretory cells at the base of crypts prevents bacterial development.  The duodenum is where food is continuously broken down, whereas the jejunum and ileum primarily help the body absorb the food that has been digested.
Large Intestine	It resembles a large muscular tube connecting the rectum and small intestine.  It consists of the anus, colon, rectum, and caecum.  There are sigmoid, transverse, ascending, and descending sections in the colon.  The caecum is a structure resembling a pouch.	The lubricating mucus covered in faeces is produced by the existing intestinal mucus glands.  Here, undigested food stuff concentrates and salts and water are absorbed.  The rectum acts as a holding area for faces.

Summary

Because of their complicated body plans, humans have a digestive tract with two openings: a mouth at one end and an anus at the other. The lower surface of the stomach’s curve to the left and the upper surface to the right are referred to as the lesser and larger curvatures, respectively. In the abdominal cavity, the small intestine looks like a lengthy, coiling loop. The lubricating mucus covered in faces is produced by the existing intestinal mucus glands.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Function of the Epiglottis?
Ans. Epiglottitis is a flap-like structure that covers the glottis, the windpipe’s entrance, when food is swallowed. This stops the food from choking and entering the windpipe.

2. What Function does Meiisner’s Nerve Plexus Serve?
Ans. Meissner’s nerve plexus controls the gastrointestinal tract’s secretions and local blood flow and aids in the start of the peristaltic movement.

3. Where are Delta Cells Found and what do they do?
Ans. The pancreatic islets of Langerhans contain delta cells. Somatostatin, a hormone that prevents the body from producing other hormones, is produced by these cells.

4. What Pigments are Present in Bile, and where do they Come From?
Ans.  The bile pigments include greenish biliverdin and yellowish bilirubin. Dead red blood cells’ haemoglobin is degraded, and the bile pigments that result are expelled.

5. What Function does E. coli Serve in the Human Digestive System?
Ans. E. coli is a type of bacteria that helps with digestion, breaking down food particles for absorption in the small intestine and producing vitamin K.

Introduction

Food is necessary for us to get the raw materials and energy needed to carry out metabolic activities. The efficient digestion and absorption of the food ensure the proper assimilation of its nutrients. Only when the digestive system is operating effectively does proper digestion and absorption take place. The digestive tract will be in good health if you eat enough nutritious food and lead a healthy lifestyle. Poor eating habits can cause digestive system abnormalities and several related health problems. Acidity is the most frequent of all digestive system problems and is related to several risk factors if not treated promptly.

Significance of the Human Digestive System

The alimentary canal and auxiliary digestive organs such as the liver, pancreas, and salivary glands make up the human digestive system. The following list highlights the relevance of this system, which guarantees the effective use of food consumed: 

• The digestive system carries out digestion, or the breakdown of large molecules into smaller, simpler molecules that can be easily absorbed. 
• It makes sure that any disease or dangerous substance that enters through the mouth is eliminated before it has a chance to spread to other organs. 
• It guarantees appropriate secretion of digestive fluid and a suitable environment for this fluid to interact with the food.
• The components of the digestive system are also designed to absorb the material that has been digested and add it to the fluid that circulates to carry it to the cells where it is required.

A common mistake students make is memorising Science or a process without understanding the concept behind it. Check out online study options are a great way to clear the science concepts you need. Watch the related video of these Online Science tuitions For Class 7 Lesson no- 2.

Common Disorders of the Human Digestive System

Disorders	Symptoms and causes
Lactose intolerance	Consuming dairy products causes bloating gas and diarrhoea. A person with lactose intolerance is unable to effectively digest the lactose found in milk and other dairy products.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)	Heartburn, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing are some of the main symptoms. GERD is brought on by the stomach’s contents often moving back into the tube connecting the mouth and stomach.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)	IBS patients may endure cramps, flatulence, and severe stomach pain. IBS is a condition marked by aberrant colon muscle contractions.
Peptic ulcer	Abdominal discomfort is caused by wounds that form in the lining of the stomach, small intestine, and esophagus. These typically appear as a result of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug use and inflammation brought on by Helicobacter pylori.
Chronic constipation	A person has less than three bowel movements per week, and they last for three weeks or longer. There are a variety of reasons why this happens, including dehydration, inadequate dietary fibre from foods like watery fruits, vegetables, and cereals, inactivity, a lack of exercise, and medication side effects.

How to Prevent Different Disorders of the Digestive Tract?

Disorders	Prevention
Lactose intolerance	Limit your consumption of dairy products and milk. Take vitamins to help the lactose digest.
GERD	Eat enough meals and prevent overindulging, give up smoking, and stop eating two to three hours before bed.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome	Reduce stress, drink enough fluids, and include plenty of fibre-rich foods in your diet, such as beans, fruits, and watery vegetables.
Peptic ulcer	Avoid using smoke and alcohol, and regularly wash your hands to prevent infections.
Chronic constipation	Consume foods high in fibre, exercise often, drink lots of water, and steer clear of undercooked or raw foods.

Causes of Acidity

Acidity is the overproduction of gastric acid, which can be caused by a variety of things, including nutrition, eating habits, activity, and body type.

• Food: Prolonged eating of deep-fried foods might cause the stomach to produce too much acid. Lemon, grapefruit, and orange are citrus fruits that make the stomach’s already-acidic environment more acidic.
• Beverages: A drink containing caffeine, such as chocolate, tea, or coffee causes the stomach to produce acid and cause it to become acidic. A lot of alcohol consumption promotes acidity and irritates the lining of the stomach. Therefore, it is best to stop drinking alcohol. 
• Obesity: Being overweight puts the abdomen under additional strain, which increases acidity. 
• Medications: Heartburn can be brought on by certain medicines, antibiotics, and non-steroidal medications that harm the stomach’s lining.
• Poor habits: The bad behaviours include eating large meals, sleeping right away after eating, smoking, and eating late at night, which can promote acid reflux.

Acidity Symptoms

The common symptoms of acidity include the following.

• Heartburn (burning sensation in the chest and the throat)
• Regurgitation (feeling of undigested food or liquids going up and down in throat)
• Inability to consume food 
• Indigestion
• Abdominal bloating 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• A bitter aftertaste 
• Persistent dry cough

Some Healthy Foods for Healthy Digestive Tract

Foods	Their role in digestion
Banana	Improves digestion and neutralizes excessive gastric juice output.
Apple	The pectin fiber in it enhances metabolism.
Yoghurt	Yogurt is a fermented milk product that contains probiotic microorganisms that are good for the digestive system. It keeps a healthy gut and enhances food digestion.
Leafy greens	They eliminate dangerous microorganisms and preserve sound digestion.
Turmeric	It is an antioxidant with the ability to reduce inflammation, which can aid with digestion.
Lentils	These includes abundant fibres that encourage regular bowel motions and a healthy digestive tract.

Summary 

The alimentary canal and auxiliary digestive organs such as the liver, pancreas, and salivary glands make up the human digestive system. Acidity is the overproduction of gastric acid, which can be caused by a variety of things, including nutrition, eating habits, activity, and body type. The common symptoms of acidity include an inability to consume food, indigestion, and abdominal bloating. Banana improves digestion and neutralizes excessive gastric juice output.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are Probiotics?
Ans. A probiotic is a live microorganism sold with a claim that it improves or restores the gut microbiota when consumed. Examples are Gram-positive bacteria and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), in the production of cheese, yoghurt, and pickles).

2. Why is the Intake of a Gut-Friendly Diet Important?
Ans. A healthy gut lowers inflammation, keeps your brain healthy, keeps you at a healthy weight, and helps you avoid chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. Therefore, it will be harder to maintain good health if your gut is out of whack and your immune system isn’t operating at peak efficiency.

3. What are the Health Risks associated with GERD?
Ans. If GERD is not addressed, it can become a problem because, over time, stomach acid reflux harms the tissue lining the oesophagus, resulting in inflammation and discomfort. Adults with persistent, untreated GERD risk lifelongoesophagall injury.

4. Can Acidity Cause Cancer?
Ans. The lengthy tube that delivers food from your throat to your stomach is called the oesophagus. Acid from your stomach flows up into your oesophagus when you have acid reflux. This over time can harm the tissue in your oesophagus and raise your risk of getting oesophagal cancer.

5. How do Foods Decompose?
Ans. As the food moves through the digestive tract and combines with digestive fluids, it breaks down into smaller molecules. After being absorbed by the body through the small intestine’s walls, these smaller molecules are subsequently transported to the rest of the body by the bloodstream.