Digestion
is defined as the process by which food is broken
down into simple chemical substances that canbe absorbed
and used as nutrients by the body. Most of the
substances in the diet cannot be utilized as such.These substances
must be broken into smaller particles,so that they
can be absorbed into blood and distributed to various
parts of the body for utilization. Digestive system is
responsible for these functions.Digestive
process is accomplished by mechanical and
enzymatic breakdown of food into simpler chemical compounds. A
normal young healthy adult consumes
about 1 kg of
solid diet and about 1 to 2 liter of liquid diet every
day. All these food materials are subjected to digestive
process, before being absorbed into blood and distributed to
the tissues of the body. Digestive system plays the
major role in the digestion and absorption of food
substances.
Thus, the
functions of digestive system include:
- Ingestion or consumption of food substances
- Breaking them into small particles
- Transport of small particles to different areas of the digestive tract
- Secretion of necessary enzymes and other substances for digestion
- Digestion of the food particles
- Absorption of the digestive products (nutrients)
- Removal of unwanted substances from the body.
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