Digestive System
Biology · पाचन तंत्र · 16 facts
Digestion: breaking complex food into simple absorbable nutrients
Alimentary canal: mouth->oesophagus->stomach->small intestine->large intestine->anus
Mouth: teeth chew(mechanical); saliva has amylase(starch->maltose)
Salivary glands produce saliva; enzyme ptyalin(amylase) breaks starch
Oesophagus: food pipe; peristalsis pushes food to stomach
Stomach: HCl kills bacteria+activates pepsin; pepsin digests protein
Small intestine: longest part(~6m); main digestion+absorption site
Liver: largest gland; produces bile; stored in gallbladder
Bile: emulsifies fats(breaks into small droplets); no enzyme
Pancreas: secretes pancreatic juice with trypsin, lipase, amylase
Villi: finger-like projections in small intestine; increase absorption area
Large intestine: absorbs water+minerals; forms faeces
Complete digestion of food takes about 24-72 hours
Liver also detoxifies blood; stores glycogen; produces cholesterol
Appendix: vestigial organ attached to large intestine
Ruminants(cow): 4-chambered stomach for cellulose digestion