Digestive+System

 **Digestive System ** **By: Sam Sweeney and Lauren Moyer**

Functions of Digestive System: Recieve food from the outside, break down food molecules into simpler forms that can pass through cell membranes, and be absorbed, produce hormones

Organs: Mouth, Tongue, Teeth, Salivary glands, Pharynx, Esophagus, Stomach, Liver, Gall bladder, Pancreas, Small intestine, Large intestine

Characteristics of life: Digestion, Movement, Absorbtion, Responsive, Assimilation, Circulation
 * would love to see some explanation here about how these characteristics are represented in the digestive system. ~Mrs. Rohland **

Anatomical Directional Terms: The pancreas is on the midline. The mouth is superior to the stomach. The liver is inferior to the esophagus. The tongue is posterior to the teeth.

Location in the body: Thoracic and the abdomino-pelvic cavity, which is composed of a abdominal portion and a pelvic portion.

System Interaction: Since the digestive system is able to produce hormones, it becomes part of the endocrine system as well. The cardiovascular system includes a bloodstream that carries nutrients, absorbed in the digestive system, to all body cells. The lymphatic system helps absorb the fats moving through the digestive system.

Metabolism: When the digestive system breaks down molecules of ingested materials, it is able to travel through specific cell membranes, allowing the simpler forms enter the bloodstream and carry nutrients throughout the body to other vital systems.

Homeostasis: Because the digestive system helps to release nutrients and other chemicals into the bloodstream, it helps reduce the risk of an area of the body being deprived of these vital nutrients. In turn, this creates a stable balance of nutrients throughout the body, therefore creating a stable internal environment.

[|DIGESTIVE SYSTEM RAP]