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Facts About The Digestive System That Might Interest You

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The digestive system is a network of organs that work together to extract energy and nutrients from food while eliminating waste. It consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines, and associated glands and organs. But what about its functions? You might not know all of the facts, so let’s find out!

1. A Lot Of Bacteria Live In The Digestive System

Bacteria that live in the digestive system are called gut flora. The digestive system houses approximately 100 trillion bacterial cells, which means they outnumber human cells in the body by 10 to 1! Some friendly bacteria prevent harmful ones from growing and spreading. It’s important to do microbiome research for gut health to prevent issues like obesity. These bacteria are beneficial as they aid in nutrient absorption, make vitamins and stimulate the immune system. However, when bad bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, take over, harmful symptoms can arise such as inflammation of the colon and diarrhea. C. difficile is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections that affect half a million people in the United States annually.

2. The Basic Function Of The Digestive System

Extracting nutrients from food is the basic function of the digestive system. It also protects the body against infections and other dangers. This activity works by breaking down food into smaller components. The small components are absorbed by the body, giving it energy and nutrients to use to grow and develop. The entire process takes place in the digestive tract and lasts about a day.

3. It’s Controlled By Nerves And Hormones

The digestive system is aided by nerves and hormones, which are chemicals that facilitate intercellular communication. These hormones include insulin, glucagon, secretin, cholecystokinin (CCK), gastrin, and others. However, the main digestive hormone is gastrin, which stimulates the stomach to produce acid and tells it how much food to release. The hormones CCK and secretin are released when the presence of food in the upper digestive tract stimulates nerves that send messages to the brain. The release of these hormones slows movement through the stomach, which gives it time to extract nutrients from food.

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4. The Digestive System Processes Food In A Few Hours

Though it takes a long time to eat food, the full process of digestion that takes place in your digestive system only takes a few hours. The entire digestive system is roughly 30 feet long, but the actual length will depend on your size and how much food you eat. The digestive tract is responsible for taking in food and turning it into the nutrients that the body uses to function properly. Food processing is necessary because the digestive tract cannot extract nutrients from food when it is whole, so it must be broken down into small parts.

5. Digestive System And Immunity Are Related

The immune system benefits the digestive system by killing harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the gastrointestinal tract. This spreads disease to other areas of the body. The immune system has several cells that attack unwanted organisms in the digestive system, including macrophages and natural killer cells. These cells work to protect the body from infection at all costs. Because of this, it is important what we eat and when we eat. It’s also important to consider the micronutrients we take in with our food to stay healthy. 

6. Digestion Is A Complex System

Though it may seem like there’s nothing special about digestion, the process itself is very complex. This system includes organs like your mouth, stomach, pancreas, liver, and intestines. It also requires chemical reactions within different parts of the system to work properly. Food moves through the digestive system until it is fully processed into useful nutrients. These components are absorbed by the body so they can be used in various ways to keep bodies healthy or to aid in getting over diseases.

7. The Digestive System Is A Two-Way Street

Since the mouth, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, and intestines are part of the digestive system, their functions are all interconnected. The mouth is responsible for taking in food during eating time. The esophagus then moves food to the stomach through muscle contractions that push food forward. The stomach then mixes the food with digestive juices to break it down and extract nutrients from it. The pancreas and liver produce and release digestive juices when needed, which includes bile in the small intestine. Finally, the large intestine absorbs water from digested food before it is excreted out of the body as waste during “going to the bathroom.”

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8. It’s So Important That People Have A Second One

If your digestive system is ever out of commission, you may not starve to death right away. This is because some animals have a second digestive tract called a cecum that can be used when the regular one isn’t functioning properly. Many herbivores have a cecum that they use to digest cellulose from plant material. This is because their digestive system cannot break down the complicated sugars in plant material on its own. So when food goes into the cecum it can be broken down by microorganisms and turned into nutrients for the body.

9. A Thing or Two About Gag Reflexes

When food goes into the mouth, a series of involuntary functions called reflexes to happen. The gag reflex is one of them and it serves as a defense mechanism. If someone places too much foreign matter in a person’s mouth, then they will gag to try to force the object out. This prevents choking hazards from blocking the airway or getting lodged in the throat. However, when eating with people it is important to remember that not everyone has a gag reflex and all of us have different levels of tolerance for objects in our mouths. 

The digestive system is an important part of staying healthy. Without it, humans would not be able to get the nutrients they need from food and could die because of this. Digestion works in multiple parts of the body through chemical reactions and involuntary muscle contractions to process food into usable materials that can be used by our bodies for energy, growth, or to recover from diseases and injuries. Now that you know these facts, you might want to put in a little more effort when you’re grocery shopping and cooking. 

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