SCI 220 Human Nutrition

Human Digestion Worksheet

The Digestive System and its Functions
Review the diagram located on p. 1. In the space provided below, write the name of each organ or part,
and explain the function of each one as it relates to digestion and absorption. Explanations must be
written as complete sentences. Please make sure that you identify each organ or part below with the
corresponding number located in the diagram.
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SCI 220 Human Nutrition
DIGESTIVE ANATOMY FUNCTION
1 Mouth Food enters the body (digestive tract) here. Teeth and tongue are
contained here, which work with the salivary glands to create a
bolus.
2 Salivary land These begin the digestive !rocess at the sight and s"ell of food, and
secrete saliva to "oisten the food.
3 #haryn$ This !assageway is res!onsible for swallowing. %t also allows air to
!ass.
4 &so!hagus This !ortion of the % tract connects the !haryn$ to the sto"ach.
5 &!iglottis The e!iglottis is a valve'like fla! of tissue that kee!s food fro"
!assing into the lungs.
6 Trachea The !assage through which air reaches the lungs.
7 (ower &so!hageal
S!hincter
This "uscle constricts closed after food enters the sto"ach, to
!revent backflow of % contents
8 Sto"ach The sto"ach is a digestive organ where the bolus is "i$ed with acid
to for" a chy"e (se"i'li)uid food "ass). The sto"ach also
secretes gastric fluid.
9 #ancreatic *ucts This syste" delivers !ancreatic fluid (which includes water,
bicarbonate, and digestive en+y"es) to the s"all intestine.
10 *uodenu" The duodenu" is the first !ortion of the s"all intestine, where the
"a,ority of chy"e breakdown takes !lace. The duodenu" is also
res!onsible for regulating the rate at which the sto"ach is e"!tied.
11 S"all %ntestine This tube'sha!ed organ is divided into - !arts (duodenu", ,e,unu",
ileu"). *igestion !ri"arily occurs here, along with the "a,ority of
nutrient absor!tion.
12 (iver This organ !roduces bile, a necessary substance for the digestion
and absor!tion of fat.
13 allbladder The gallbladder stores the bile that is !roduced by the liver.
14 .ile *uct The bile duct conducts bile fro" the gallbladder (where it is stored)
to the s"all intestine, for the !ur!ose of digesting fat.
15 #ancreas This organ secretes digestive en+y"es and bicarbonate into the
s"all intestine as !art of the digestive !rocess.
16 &!itheliu" (absor!tive
cells)
The lining of the s"all intestine, the e!itheliu" includes "ulti!le
co"!onents, including villi, "uscle layers, and the "ucosa. This
syste" is designed to absorb nutrients with the aid of digestive
en+y"es and !eristalsis.
17 %leocecal S!hincter This serves as the valve between the s"all and large intestines, with
any undigested food !assing through to the large intestine.
18 (arge %ntestine This !ortion of the % tract includes the colon and rectu". So"e
absor!tion of water, as well as vita"ins and "inerals, takes !lace
here.
19 /olon This is the final !ortion of the % tract in which absor!tion can
occur.
20 0nus The anus is the e$ternal o!ening of the digestive tract fro" which
digestive waste is eli"inated in feces.
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