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What so many people know about food is just that we should eat for strength and satisfaction and at the end of the day we pass out waste product.
This is correct but there are lots of processes as well as stages involved in food digestion that a lot of people do not have an idea about.
The Definition of Food.
Before we proceed, it is essential that we get the definition of the topic involved which is food.
Dictionary.com described food as :
<< Every substance that is nourishing and is taken into the body for the purpose of life, energy as well as growth sustainability>>.
Business dictionary describes food as:
<< Every edible substance that describes nutritive components which is taken for the purpose of gaining energy, providing good health and sustaining life>>.
The process of digestion begins immediately with chewing the food, there is an enzyme called amylase it is found in the saliva.
The presence of amylase in the mouth begins the breakdown of carbohydrates.
The presence of the teeth makes chewing and grinding possible therefore breaking the food substances into smaller particles.
The tongue plays its part by moving the food particles around in order to give them efficient mechanical digestion.
The presence of the salivary gland makes it easy for the process of swallowing to occur during the early process of digestion.
There is a tabular entrance that leads to the oesophagus, this tabular entrance is called the 'pharynx', the food passes through the pharynx and goes straight into the oesophagus.
Now during the process of swallowing, if food gets into the wind pipe it will result in chocking, in order to prevent chocking, there is a valve that is (flap like), this (flap like) valve is known as the epiglottis.
The epiglottis closes over the trachea during the process of swallowing in order to prevent food from entering into the wind pipe.
The oesophagus is responsible for the connection of the pharynx with the stomach, whenever the oesophagus contracts, food is pushed through a sphincter into the stomach.
It is important to note that while the food is in the stomach, three things happen and they are:
The stomach is responsible for the mixing and storing of food until it is ready for the process of digestion.
The stomach is responsible for the secretion of chemicals that will help in the breaking of the food into more digestible forms.
The stomach is also responsible for controlling food into the small intestine.
The chemical digestion of protein begins in the stomach.
Do you know that food stays in the stomach for a long period of three to four hours before finally moving into the small intestine passing through another sphincter muscle.
The small intestine on it's own is made up of three parts which are: the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum.
Majority of the chemical digestion that occurs happens in the duodenum and this happens by the chemicals secreted by the liver, the pancreas as well as the small intestine.
After the successful completion of the chemical reaction, the left over is usually free from nutrients, it is usually made up of just water, cellulose as well as other indigestible materials.
However, the retained water is quickly removed through villi and the water is returned to the blood stream.
The large intestine is responsible for taking out water from the undigested food material before it is sent into the Rectum.
The Rectum is regarded as the spot responsible for the holding of waste materials, waste exit the body from the rectum.
There are three other organs that are usually regarded as the accessory organs, they are: Liver, Gall bladder and Pancreas.
I feel this post is not detailed enough but I do not want to bore my readers as I will like you to understand everything you read, we could continue next time if you will like me to do that, please let me know through the comment section.
Thank you so much for showing me love once again, I am really excited I choose the project hope community.
REFERENCES.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/tour-the-digestive-system-4020262
http://www.e-missions.net/cybersurgeons/?/dig_teacher/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/496198-how-does-our-body-change-food-into-energy-we-can-use/