Human Anatomy Assignment 12

Human Anatomy (1050 web) Writing Assignment Week 12:
Due December 11th, 2012
Amanda Anousaya – 0543539

Question 1: When ever I think of retracing the path that food takes throughout the body I instantly think of a Magic School Bus episode. The first part of digestion would be as soon as you use your sense of smell, which triggers your salivary glands to secrete saliva. Once you take your first bite, your saliva increases even more. You then break down the food by chewing. Even more saliva is produced so your body can absorb it. The next step is the going through the pharynx and esophagus. The throat, also know as the pharynx branches off into the esophagus, which carries the food from the throat to the stomach. Your tongue and roof of mouth are in charge of pushing the food into your throat. The esophagus is the extending tube that pushes foo through to the stomach. The contractions are called peristalsis. Right before the opening of the stomach is the lower esophageal sphincter. It allows food to pass into the stomach and closes it to make sure it does not come back up. The next stops are the stomach and the small intestine. The stomach’s muscular walls hold, mix, and grind food. It secretes acid that continues to break down your food. The food then moves to the small intestine, non-liquid remains are released from the stomach and continue through the intestines to be removed completely. The duodenum, jejunum, and ileum are the three parts that make up the intestine. They all break down food using enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver. In the intestine is where the body receives the most nutrients. After all the nutrients are absorbed by the small intestine, the large intestine moves what is left to the large bowel or colon. The colon is a 5 to 7 foot long tube connecting the small intestine to the rectum. The waste or stool left over from digestion passes through the colon as first a liquid form then a solid form. It usually takes 36 hours