The Digestive System
INtroductionAn adult human digestive system can stretch up to 30 feet long (or 9 metres). If you think about it, that’s a long way for food or chyme to travel without you thinking about it. Most parts of the digestive system are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, meaning that we don’t have to concentrate on digesting our food. The body takes care of that on its own!
Digestive system protectionMost of the digestive organs are located in the abdomen. Organs like the stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys, gall bladder and intestines are secured in the abdomen inside the peritoneum (SAY: pare-ih-tuh-NEE-um). The peritoneum is similar to a bag – it separates the organs from the abdominal muscles. The layers of skeletal muscles around the abdomen support the peritoneum by protecting it.
Bowel MovementsA “Bowel movement” is a scientific way to say “pooping.” Different cultures have various phrases to describe a bowl movement. Some people call it a “Number 2.” Most people are embarrassed to talk about bowl movements but they are natural and it’s important to know when something is wrong. Look out for:
Constipation Constipation happens when the bowels don’t move enough so too much water is taken from them. The bowels are hard and dry. Usually, it means you need more fiber and fewer greasy foods. Exercising will help too. Diarrhea Diarrhea happens when the bowels move too quickly so not enough water is taken from them. The bowels are watery. It can be a symptom of an infection so tell an adult if you have diarrhea. Love your bodyHave you ever heard the saying “you are what you eat?” Well it’s true! The food that we eat turns into its most simple form to feed the body cells. Our body cells are built from the food that we eat!
The digestive system is important because without it, the body wouldn’t have the proper nutrients to grow and move. Taking care of it is simple!
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Retrieved from http://humanbody.global2.vic.edu.au/body-systems/digestive-system/
Ouch! A bellyache!Most people will have several bellyaches in their lifetime. Pain is a warning signal from the nervous system that there is a problem that needs to be cared for. Bellyaches are difficult to know exactly what is wrong because the organs are so close together in the abdomen. Bellyaches can be from:
Bellyaches will usually go away and are not always serious, but it is always important to tell an adult if you have one so you can talk about what it might be from. Eating, sleeping, drinking water and washing your hands are good hints to avoid bellyaches. Digestive System ProblemsThe digestive system is complicated and there are many parts to it so it is natural that there are many problems that may occur. Here are some common problems with the digestive system.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) The muscles in the large intestine do not work together so it is uncomfortable to have a bowel movement. Stomach Flu (gastroenteritis) Usually this is caused by a virus and takes only a few days to recover from. This is contagious so wash your hands often. Heartburn The sphincter between the esophagus and stomach opens at the wrong time, causing food to back up into the esophagus. You may feel a burning sensation. |