The Alimentary Canal
The Alimentary Canal
The Alimentary Canal
http://wholelifebalance.com/digestion-101-small-intestine-absorption-meister/
Organ Digestive Source of Main Functions of components
Juice(s) Digestive Juices Components of
Digestive Juices
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_acid
Absorption
What Is Absorption?
Absorption is the process of absorbing or assimilating substances into cells or
across the tissues and organs through diffusion, osmosis or active transport.
Absorption in the Small Intestine and Colon
Before absorption can take place in the small intestine (small bowel) and colon the
partially digested food mixed with gastric juices (chyme) must be fully digested.
Proteins are denatured by acid and broken down by pepsin in the stomach. Lipids
begin being broken down by gastric lipases but the majority of fat digestion occurs
in the small bowel. The action of pancreatic lipases breakdown fats into smaller,
potentially absorbable components. Carbohydrates generally enter the small
intestine intact but once there they are split into sugars by pancreatic amylase.
Further down in the small bowel, maltase, sucrase, lactase, isomaltase and alpha
dextrinas act on the remaining carbohydrates, splitting off the component simple
sugars one sugar at a time. All this occurs in the first twelve inches of the small
intestines called the duodenum.
During absorption ninety to ninety-five percent of nutrients are absorbed in the
small bowel. After being exposed to pancreatic enzymes and bile the partially
digested chyme becomes capable of being absorbed. By the end of its passage
everything valuable to the body has been extracted from the chyme. This includes:
Water
Electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium)
Proteins, carbohydrates and fats (which have been broken down into amino
acids, glucose and fatty acids respectively)
Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals
Vitamins, simple sugars and amino acids are absorbed in the next eleven feet of the
small intestine called the jejunum. Water soluble vitamins, like vitamin C and the
B-complex vitamins, go directly into the blood stream. Fat soluble vitamins, like
vitamin A, D and E are packaged into fats in this part of the small intestine.
In the ileum any vitamin, mineral, simple sugar or amino acid that hasn’t been
absorbed yet will get picked up here. Fats and fat soluble vitamins are transported
to the lymphatic system where they slowly enter the bloodstream over time.
The small intestines and colon are lined with small projections called villi that
absorb what the body needs and blocks what isn’t needed. The villi are simply
little fingers lined up next to each other with just enough space for nutrients to get
through but small enough that large, unwanted particles can’t. A single villus
consists of one vein, one artery and a central lacteal, which is a type of capillary
that transports lymphatic fluid. The villus is structurally supported by one strand of
muscle and connective tissue. Two types of cells coat the villi, goblet cells that
secrete mucus and epithelial (surface) cells that are responsible for absorption. The
epithelial cells are coated with even smaller projections called microvilli which
further increase the absorptive capacity of the intestines. Microvilli are covered
with digestive enzymes that break down carbohydrates and protein. When the
chyme comes in contact with the villi the carbohydrates and proteins in the chyme
enter the bloodstream passively via the vein and artery. The fat is absorbed by the
lacteal into the lymphatic system, which eventually empties into the bloodstream.
Specialized intestinal cells of the villi allow the passage of B-12, iron and calcium
into the bloodstream via active transport.
The large intestine/colon is the last part of the alimentary canal and it absorbs
excess water and vitamins while turning waste products from the digested food
into faeces. It uses absorption to gain water and vitamins which is used to convert
the waste products into faeces. The water is absorbed through the villi via osmosis
but by now there is a larger osmotic pressure in the chyme. As a result, the colon
must aid in moving the water against the gradient.
Sources: http://teachmephysiology.com/gastrointestinal-system/large-intestine/absorption-large-
intestine/
http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Absorption
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/villi-affect-absorption-nutrients-9113.html
Egestion
Egestion is the expulsion of undigested food materials from the body as faeces.
After digestion and absorption, large amounts of materials remain undigested.
These materials largely consist of plant fibres, dead bacteria etc. and are passed
into the rectum where the faeces are expelled through the anus.
Sources: https://gradestack.com/CBSE-Class-11th-Science/Digestion-and-Absorption/Egestion/17596-
3568-30613-study-wtw
Assimilation, using monosaccharides, amino
acids and fatty acids & glycerol
Assimilation occurs in the cells while digestion occurs in the alimentary canal. The
absorbed nutrients are carried to the liver where they are distributed to other parts
of the body. The liver acts as a checkpoint and stores excess nutrients and also acts
as a regulator as it controls how much nutrients our body receives.
Monosaccharides
After being absorbed by the blood capillaries, monosaccharides are transported to
the liver via the hepatic portal vein. The liver distributes enough nutrients to the
heart where it is then pumped around the body to its respective cells. The
monosaccharide then combines with oxygen in the cell (oxidisation) to release
energy. This is called cell respiration. Excess nutrients are converted and stored in
the liver. For example, glucose is converted to glycogen and stored in the liver for
later use. When there are too much excess nutrients, the rest is converted to lipids.
Amino Acids
After absorption, amino acids enter the liver by the hepatic portal vein. The liver
converts it to plasma proteins and it also is sent to the heart to be distributed
around the body to the cells where it builds the cell, provides growth and
maintenance to the cell. Excess amino acids cannot be stored in the body and is
therefore goes through a process by the liver called deamination. This turns the
amino acids into urea which is then transported to the kidneys which is then gotten
rid of by the body as urine.
Fatty Acids and Glycerol
After the triglycerides are split into fatty acids and glycerol and the components are
absorbed by the lacteal, the fats are converted to lipoproteins and are transported
into the nearest lymph vessel. The lymphatic system then carries the lipoproteins to
the large vein in the neck where they finally enter the bloodstream. Once in the
bloodstream some lipoproteins carry fatty acids to tissues that need them for
energy, such as muscles. High density lipoproteins take cholesterol back to the
liver where its removed from your system. Low density lipoproteins remain in the
blood stream and deliver cholesterol to cells.
Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI4cQdFpXaw
https://www.scribd.com/doc/18226559/Assimilation-of-Digested-Food
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/fats-absorbed-directly-bloodstream-12269.html