It
also makes a substance that neutralizes stomach acid. The liver produces bile,
which helps the body absorb fat. Bile is stored in the gallbladder until it is
needed. These enzymes and bile travel through special channels (called ducts)
directly into the small intestine, where they help to break down food. The
liver also plays a major role in the handling and processing of nutrients.
These nutrients are carried to the liver in the blood from the small intestine.
From the small intestine, food that has not been digested (and some water)
travels to the large intestine through a valve that prevents food from
returning to the small intestine. By the time food reaches the large intestine,
the work of absorbing nutrients is nearly finished. The large intestine's main
function is to remove water from the undigested matter and form solid waste
that can be excreted. The large intestine is made up of three parts: The cecum
is a pouch at the beginning of the large intestine that joins the small
intestine to the large intestine. This transition area allows food to travel
from the small intestine to the large intestine.
The appendix, a small, hollow,
finger-like pouch, hangs off the cecum. Doctors believe the Exo Slim appendix is left
over from a previous time in human evolution. It no longer appears to be useful
to the digestive process. The colon extends from the cecum up the right side of
the abdomen, across the upper abdomen, and then down the left side of the
abdomen, finally connecting to the rectum. The colon has three parts: the
ascending colon and transverse colon, which absorb water and salts, and the
descending colon, which holds the resulting waste. Bacteria in the colon help
to digest the remaining food products. The rectum is where feces are stored
until they leave the digestive system through the anus as a bowel movement.
Nearly everyone has a digestive problem at one time or another. Some
conditions, such as indigestion or mild diarrhea, are common; they result in
mild discomfort and get better on their own or are easy to treat. Others, such
as inflammatory bowel disease can be long lasting or troublesome.
GI
specialists or gastroenterologists (doctors who specialize in the digestive
system) can be helpful when dealing and these conditions. Conditions affecting
the esophagus may be congenital (meaning people are born and them) or
noncongenital (meaning people can develop them after birth) These include
Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia are both examples of
congenital conditions. Tracheoesophageal fistula is where there is a connection
between the esophagus and the trachea (windpipe) where there shouldn't be one.
In babies and esophageal atresia, the esophagus comes to a dead end instead of
connecting to the stomach. Both conditions are usually detected soon after a
baby is born sometimes even beforehand. They require surgery to repair.
Esophagitis or inflammation of the esophagus, is an example of a noncongenital
condition. Esophagitis is usually caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, a
condition in which the esophageal sphincter (the tube of muscle that connects
the esophagus and the stomach) allows the acidic contents of the stomach to
move backward up into the esophagus. can sometimes be corrected through
lifestyle changes, such as adjusting the types of things a person eats.
Sometimes, though, it requires treatment and medication.
Occasionally,
esophagitis can be caused by infection or certain medications. Conditions
Affecting the Stomach and Intestines Almost everyone has experienced diarrhea
or constipation at some point in their lives. And diarrhea, muscle contractions
move the contents of the intestines along too quickly and there isn't enough
time for water to be absorbed before the feces are pushed out of the body.
Constipation is the opposite: The contents of the large intestines do not move
along fast enough and waste materials stay in the large intestine so long that
too much water is removed and the feces become hard. Other common stomach and
intestinal disorders include: Celiac disease is a digestive disorder caused by
the abnormal response of the immune system to a protein called gluten, which is
found in certain foods. People and celiac disease have difficulty digesting the
nutrients from their food because eating things and gluten damages the lining
of the intestines over time. Some of the symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal pain,
and bloating. The disease can be managed by following a gluten-free diet.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common intestinal disorder that affects the
colon. When the muscles in the colon don't work smoothly, a person can feel the
abdominal cramps, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea that may be signs of
IBS.
There's no cure for IBS, but it can be managed by making some dietary and
lifestyle changes. Occasionally, medications may be used as well. Gastritis and
peptic ulcers. Under normal conditions, the stomach and duodenum are extremely
resistant to irritation by the strong acids produced in the stomach. Sometimes,
though, a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori or the chronic use of certain
medications weakens the protective mucous coating of the stomach and duodenum,
allowing acid to get through to the sensitive lining beneath. This can irritate
and inflame the lining of the stomach (a condition known as gastritis) or cause
peptic ulcers, which are sores or holes that form in the lining of the stomach
or the duodenum and cause pain or bleeding. Medications are usually successful
in treating these conditions. Inflammatory bowel disease is chronic
inflammation of the intestines that affects older kids, teens, and adults.
There are two major types: ulcerative colitis, which usually affects just the
rectum and the large intestine, and Crohn's disease, which can affect the whole
gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus as well as other parts of the
body.
They are treated and medications, but in some cases, surgery may be
necessary to remove inflamed or damaged areas of the intestine. Disorders of
the Pancreas, Liver, and Gallbladder Conditions affecting the pancreas, liver,
and gallbladder often affect the ability of these organs to produce enzymes and
other substances that aid in digestion. Cystic fibrosis is a chronic, inherited
illness that not only affects the lungs, but also causes the production of
abnormally thick mucus. This mucus blocks the ducts or passageways in the
pancreas and prevents its digestive juices from entering the intestines, making
it difficult for a person to properly digest proteins and fats. This causes
important nutrients to pass out of the body unused. To help manage their
digestive problems, people and cystic fibrosis can take digestive enzymes and
nutritional supplements. Hepatitis is a viral infection in which the liver
becomes inflamed and can lose its ability to function. Some forms of viral
hepatitis are highly contagious. Mild cases of hepatitis A can be treated at
home; however, serious cases involving liver damage may require hospitalization.
The gallbladder can develop gallstones and become inflamed a condition called
cholecystitis (pronounced: ko-lee-sis-TYE-tus). Although gallbladder conditions
are uncommon in teens, they can happen when a teen has sickle cell disease or
is being treated and certain long-term medications. The kinds and amounts of
food a person eats and how the digestive system processes that food play key
roles in maintaining good health. Eating a healthy diet is the best way to
prevent common digestive problems. Parts of the Digestive System Every day, we
eat food and the body carries out the process of digestion. Food is our body's
fuel source. The nutrients in food give the body's cells the energy and other
substances they need to operate, and digestion is the process of breaking down
the food and drink into smaller molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, fats,
and vitamins. There are many parts of the digestive system, including the
gastrointestinal tract, also called the digestive tract, the liver, the pancreas,
and the gallbladder. The gastrointestinal tract is a long, twisting tube of
hollow organs that start at the mouth and end at the anus.
Have you ever gone
to a water amusement park and rode down one of the tube slides into the water?
Well, that could represent the hollow organs of the tract. Just picture the
food going down the slide. Hollow organs in the tract include the mouth,
esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, including the rectum, and
anus.
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