The human digestive system consists of several sections, each of which performs its own functions. In this article, we will look at the alimentary canal, also known as the digestive tract.
The alimentary canal begins in the mouth and ends in the anus. On its way, it passes through the stomach, small and large intestines, and rectum.
The functions of the alimentary canal include breaking down food into simpler substances, absorbing nutrients into the blood, and removing undigested food from the body.
In the stomach, food undergoes chemical and mechanical processing. Here it is mixed with gastric juice, which contains hydrochloric acid and enzymes such as pepsin. These enzymes break down proteins into amino acids, and fats and carbohydrates into monosaccharides and fatty acids.
The small intestine is a continuation of the stomach and is about 6 meters long. Here, further breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates occurs, as well as the absorption of essential nutrients into the bloodstream through the intestinal wall. The small intestine also produces bile, which helps in the digestion of fats.
The large intestine is the final section of the digestive system. Here the final absorption of water and the formation of feces occurs. The large intestine also plays an important role in maintaining immunity and protecting the body from infections.
The rectum is the final part of the digestive canal and serves to remove feces from the body. It connects to the anal canal, through which feces are released.
Thus, the digestive canal plays an important role in human nutrition and ensuring its normal functioning.
The alimentary canal is a part of the digestive tract consisting of slit-like structures (duodenum, jejunum, ileum and cecum) that perform the main functions of digestion and absorption of nutrients into the blood.
The digestive system is a collection of organs of the human body that play an important role in the digestion of food and its utilization in the body; is included in the class of systems of organisms, therefore, it has the general features of such systems with one exception, it does not have a circulatory system.