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The digestive system, alternatively called digestive system, plays a very important role in human life. Its task is to supplement the ingredients that are necessary for the construction and renewal of tissues in our body. It also transports water and energy substances that affect life processes. The digestive system is the digestive tract, which consists of: the oral cavity, throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus, as well as additional glands in the form of salivary glands, liver and pancreas.
The intricacy of the digestive system
The digestive system has many components. Each of them has an important function. The first component of the digestive system is the mouth, which consists of the lips, palate and tongue. The teeth are a very important part of our mouth, thanks to which we can grind and crush food. The language that is responsible for the sense of taste is also important. Its task is to form bites of food and then move them down the throat. Diseases that affect the oral cavity include: gingivitis, tooth decay, aphthosis, herpes and tongue cancer. Another part of the digestive system is the esophagus. At this point, it is worth mentioning the throat that plays an important role. It is a common part of the digestive and respiratory tract. The throat is an extension of the mouth that goes into the esophagus. The esophagus is shaped like a tube, about 25-30 centimeters long, through which food enters the stomach. Diseases that affect the esophagus include: reflux, cancer, varicose veins, dysphagia and Mallory-Weiss syndrome. The stomach is the next element of our digestive system. It can be defined as a bag whose task is to collect, process and sterilize food. It contains gastric juice, which is made of hydrochloric acid, water, digestive enzymes, mucus and minerals. The walls of our stomach contract and relax. Thanks to this, the food shifts and also mixes with gastric juice. As a result of this process, a pulp is formed from the food, which after 3-4 hours travels to the intestine. Stomach diseases include ulcers, inflammation, dyspepsia, hyperacidity, and cancer. Next is the small intestine, the longest part of the digestive system. In the small intestine, the food we have eaten is digested and nutrients are absorbed into the blood and lymph. The small intestine consists of three sections: duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Diseases that affect the small intestine are celiac disease, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and parasitic diseases. The next element of the digestive system is the large intestine, where the undigested remains turn into feces. In this section, microorganisms that produce, for example, vitamin B12 and K multiply. The large intestine consists of: the cecum (caecum), colon and rectum. Colorectal diseases include acute appendicitis, hemorrhoids, faecal incontinence, constipation, and cancer.
Additional glands in the digestive system
The first additional gland is the salivary gland, which produces saliva. Among the salivary glands we can distinguish: parotid, submandibular and sublingual. Diseases affecting the salivary glands include: mumps, bacterial salivary gland inflammation, dryness syndrome and multiforme adenoma. Another gland, the largest in our entire body, is the liver. It consists of four lobes that are very vascularized. The liver is responsible, among other things, for the secretion of bile, the storage of iron and some vitamins, and the neutralization of alcohol, other stimulants and pharmacological agents. Liver diseases include: hepatitis A, B or C, cirrhosis, acute liver failure or hepatic venous thrombosis. The third and last additional gland is the pancreas, the juices of which digest protein and collagen, break down nucleic acids and produce hormones responsible for carbohydrate metabolism. Pancreatic diseases are: acute pancreatitis, insulinoma and pancreatic cancer.
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For the sake of the digestive system
The digestive system is an important part of the human body. The intestines are the first and most important barrier that protects us. Therefore, it is worth taking care of the digestive system. Good food should be easy to digest and also be a source of fiber. It is advisable to eat small meals 5 times a day. You should also avoid overeating before going to bed. Then we will avoid fermentation of food in our stomach. It is also important to provide our body with fluids, preferably in the form of still water. Eating probiotic products will also have a positive effect. It is very important to do research because some diseases take years to develop and early detection works to our advantage. It is worth controlling your body. If, in addition, disturbing symptoms appear, such as a change in bowel habits, leading to constipation, accompanied by weight loss, as well as anemia and lack of appetite – testing is mandatory.