The Digestive System and Organs

Parts of the digestive system and what they do.

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  • Created by: Bella
  • Created on: 20-05-12 14:17

The Digestive System and Organs

Salivary Glands: produce the enzyme amylase in the saliva which breaks down food

Stomach: produces protease enzyme called pepsin. Also produces hydrochloric acid to kill bacteria and keep the stomach at the right pH for the pepsin to function (pH of 2)

Gullet: (Oesophegus)

Liver: controls blood sugar level by storing glucose and glygogen. It increase the rate of respiration when we are cold so that we warm up. It is where bile is produced. Bile neutralises fatty acids and emulsifies fats.

Gall Bladder: Where bile is stored before being released into the small intestine

Large Intestine: where water is absorbed from food.

Small Intestine: where 'food' is absorbed out of the digestive system into the body. Produces amylase and lipase to complete digestion.

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Rectum: Where faeces are stored before going to the anus.

Bladder: Where urine is stored.

Pancreas: Controls blood sugar levels by maintaining constant amount of glucose through actions of glycogen and insulin. It realses insulin into the blood when there is too much glucose in it to lower blood sugar levels. It also produces amylase, lipase and protease and releases them into the small intestine. 

Muscles: contract when we are cold so that we shiver. Contraction needs respiration, which in turn releases engery that warms us up.

Hypothalamus: in the brain, it monitrs water levels, carbon dioxide content and body temperature.

Thermoregulatory Centre: in the brain, it recieves impulses from the skin detecting whether the skin is too hot or cold. It then sends signals to the body to tell it how to react.

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Pituitary Gland: in the brain, it releases hormones such as ADH which regulates the water content. 

Lungs: where gas exchanges take place, it gets rid of CO2 in the body.

Skin: it plays a central role in maintaining the body temperature. It sends impulses to the thermoregulatory centre to detect the temperature change.  

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