Digestion
The first part of the digestive tract
consists of the oral cavity, cavitas
oris, the esophagus, oesophagus, and
the stomach, ventriculus. This is
followed by the intestine, enteron.
First the small intestine, which starts
with the duodenum, duodenum,
which continues into the jejunum and
ileum. Then follows the large
intestine, colon, and finally the
rectum.
During digestion, the nutrients are
broken down into smaller molecules,
in the same way as if you were to cut
the words in a line of a book into
pieces with scissors, so that the
individual letters were cut loose.
When the nutrients have been broken
down into suitably small molecules, these are absorbed through the wall
of the digestive tract. The digestion takes place by both mechanical and
chemical processes.
,The mechanical processes start in the oral cavity, where the food is
chewed into smaller pieces and at the same time the food is mixed with
saliva (salivary amylase), which makes it easier to swallow. Further down
the digestive tract, more digestive secretions are added, where kneading
continues. The digestive secretions consist of water, in which, among
other things, ions and digestive enzymes are dissolved. The food becomes
more liquid and in smaller parts. By doing this, it becomes easier for
enzymes to carry out the chemical breakdown.
The chemical breakdown of nutrients is done by digestive enzymes. These
enzymes cut the food molecules into smaller pieces. Most of the broken
down nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine, which is designed to
have as large a surface area as possible, because more substances can
be absorbed through a large surface area than a small one.
Digestive enzymes
Enzymes are substances that promote chemical reactions without being
consumed in the process. Chemical reactions are changes in molecules.
Substances that work in this way are also called catalysts. An enzyme can
be compared to a pair of scissors that can cut paper into pieces. After
cutting, the scissors are still there and can cut again. If there are many
scissors (enzymes), more paper (nutrients) can be cut at the same time.
The same is true of enzymes that break down substances in the body.
Digestive enzymes are examples of enzymes that are destructive. In
metabolism, there are also enzymes that do the opposite, as they
promote the building of more complicated molecules by causing simple
molecules to bind together, in the same way that a glue stick can be used
to glue smaller parts together to make larger ones.
Enzymes are specific, meaning that they only promote one or a few
processes. An enzyme in the digestive tract that breaks down starch in
food cannot break down disaccharides, fat or proteins. In comparison,
there are also specific scissors, such as nail scissors, paper scissors,
poultry shears, pruning shears and bolt shears, which cut completely
different things.
Function of enzymes
There are two factors in particular that affect the function of enzymes:
The pH value at the site where they work. Each type of enzyme
works best at a specific pH value. If the pH value becomes greater
(basic) or less (acidic) than this value, the ability of the enzymes to
, function decreases. Most digestive enzymes work at neutral pH, i.e.
pH = 7.
The ideal temperature for most enzymes is 37°C. If the temperature
drops, enzyme function is reduced, and if the temperature rises
above 40°C, the enzymes begin to be destroyed.
Cavitas oris
Here begins the first step in the digestive tract and the breakdown of
food.
Dentes
A tooth consists of a crown, a neck and a root. You are born with 2 sets of
teeth.
Baby teeth
Permanent teeth
Structure of teeth
Teeth are made up of special bone
tissue called dentin.
The tooth crown is covered with
hard and smooth enamel.
The neck of the tooth is covered by
gums, gingiva.
The tooth root sits in a cavity in the
jawbone, where it is attached by
connective tissue.
Inside the tooth is the pulp cavity,
which is filled with connective
tissue, blood vessels and nerves.
At the tip of the root is a root canal
through which blood vessels and
nerves pass.
Oral care and saliva prevent caries
, It is bacteria that cause cavities, or caries, in the teeth. The risk of caries
is reduced by good oral care and hygiene. Patients who cannot brush their
teeth themselves, or who receive nutrition via tube, are at particular risk
of caries.
Brushing your teeth removes food debris and plaque that otherwise
collects in cracks and crevices on your teeth. This prevents the formation
of oxygen-free, anaerobic conditions on the tooth surface that can lead to
caries.
Patients receiving tube feeding often have reduced saliva production.
Saliva contains substances that counteract caries. Stimulation of saliva
production and daily oral and dental care are therefore particularly
important for these patients.
Language
The tongue is a large muscle covered with durable stratified squamous
epithelium. It is attached to the hyoid bone, os hyoideum, gh lower jaw,
mandible. The tongue is also crucial for forming words when speaking.
Contraction of the tongue muscles is controlled by signals from the 12th
cranial nerve, n. hypoglossus.
The first part of the digestive tract
consists of the oral cavity, cavitas
oris, the esophagus, oesophagus, and
the stomach, ventriculus. This is
followed by the intestine, enteron.
First the small intestine, which starts
with the duodenum, duodenum,
which continues into the jejunum and
ileum. Then follows the large
intestine, colon, and finally the
rectum.
During digestion, the nutrients are
broken down into smaller molecules,
in the same way as if you were to cut
the words in a line of a book into
pieces with scissors, so that the
individual letters were cut loose.
When the nutrients have been broken
down into suitably small molecules, these are absorbed through the wall
of the digestive tract. The digestion takes place by both mechanical and
chemical processes.
,The mechanical processes start in the oral cavity, where the food is
chewed into smaller pieces and at the same time the food is mixed with
saliva (salivary amylase), which makes it easier to swallow. Further down
the digestive tract, more digestive secretions are added, where kneading
continues. The digestive secretions consist of water, in which, among
other things, ions and digestive enzymes are dissolved. The food becomes
more liquid and in smaller parts. By doing this, it becomes easier for
enzymes to carry out the chemical breakdown.
The chemical breakdown of nutrients is done by digestive enzymes. These
enzymes cut the food molecules into smaller pieces. Most of the broken
down nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine, which is designed to
have as large a surface area as possible, because more substances can
be absorbed through a large surface area than a small one.
Digestive enzymes
Enzymes are substances that promote chemical reactions without being
consumed in the process. Chemical reactions are changes in molecules.
Substances that work in this way are also called catalysts. An enzyme can
be compared to a pair of scissors that can cut paper into pieces. After
cutting, the scissors are still there and can cut again. If there are many
scissors (enzymes), more paper (nutrients) can be cut at the same time.
The same is true of enzymes that break down substances in the body.
Digestive enzymes are examples of enzymes that are destructive. In
metabolism, there are also enzymes that do the opposite, as they
promote the building of more complicated molecules by causing simple
molecules to bind together, in the same way that a glue stick can be used
to glue smaller parts together to make larger ones.
Enzymes are specific, meaning that they only promote one or a few
processes. An enzyme in the digestive tract that breaks down starch in
food cannot break down disaccharides, fat or proteins. In comparison,
there are also specific scissors, such as nail scissors, paper scissors,
poultry shears, pruning shears and bolt shears, which cut completely
different things.
Function of enzymes
There are two factors in particular that affect the function of enzymes:
The pH value at the site where they work. Each type of enzyme
works best at a specific pH value. If the pH value becomes greater
(basic) or less (acidic) than this value, the ability of the enzymes to
, function decreases. Most digestive enzymes work at neutral pH, i.e.
pH = 7.
The ideal temperature for most enzymes is 37°C. If the temperature
drops, enzyme function is reduced, and if the temperature rises
above 40°C, the enzymes begin to be destroyed.
Cavitas oris
Here begins the first step in the digestive tract and the breakdown of
food.
Dentes
A tooth consists of a crown, a neck and a root. You are born with 2 sets of
teeth.
Baby teeth
Permanent teeth
Structure of teeth
Teeth are made up of special bone
tissue called dentin.
The tooth crown is covered with
hard and smooth enamel.
The neck of the tooth is covered by
gums, gingiva.
The tooth root sits in a cavity in the
jawbone, where it is attached by
connective tissue.
Inside the tooth is the pulp cavity,
which is filled with connective
tissue, blood vessels and nerves.
At the tip of the root is a root canal
through which blood vessels and
nerves pass.
Oral care and saliva prevent caries
, It is bacteria that cause cavities, or caries, in the teeth. The risk of caries
is reduced by good oral care and hygiene. Patients who cannot brush their
teeth themselves, or who receive nutrition via tube, are at particular risk
of caries.
Brushing your teeth removes food debris and plaque that otherwise
collects in cracks and crevices on your teeth. This prevents the formation
of oxygen-free, anaerobic conditions on the tooth surface that can lead to
caries.
Patients receiving tube feeding often have reduced saliva production.
Saliva contains substances that counteract caries. Stimulation of saliva
production and daily oral and dental care are therefore particularly
important for these patients.
Language
The tongue is a large muscle covered with durable stratified squamous
epithelium. It is attached to the hyoid bone, os hyoideum, gh lower jaw,
mandible. The tongue is also crucial for forming words when speaking.
Contraction of the tongue muscles is controlled by signals from the 12th
cranial nerve, n. hypoglossus.
