Organs Associated with the Digestive Tract
Pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the
duodenum, which is the upper part of the small intestine. It is
about six to eight inches long in adults. The organ contains
thin tubes that come together like the veins of a leaf. These
tubes join to form a single opening into the duodenum. Pancreas
plays important roles in digestion and metabolism. It secrets
digestive enzymes into the small intestine through a tube called
the pancreatic duct. These enzymes help to digest fats,
proteins, and carbohydrates in food. The pancreas also releases
the hormones insulin land glucagons into the bloodstream. These
hormones help in maintaining proper blood sugar levels in the
body.
Liver is the largest organ in the body. It is located on the
right side of the abdomen ( to the right of the right side of
the abdomen ( to the right of the stomach) behind the lower ribs
and below the lungs. The liver performs more than 400 functions
each day to keep the body healthy. The primary function of liver
is production of bile that aids in the digestion and absorption
of fats. Bile also aids in the absorption f vitamin A,D, E, and
K. The bile is stored in the gall bladder (which is located just
below the liver) and released into the intestine as needed.
Together, these two organs (liver and gall bladder) process the
nutrients found in the foods we eat. Other functions of the
liver are as follows:
1 It converts food into nutrients the body can use.
2 It helps to distribute the nutrients.
3 It stores fats, sugars, iron, and vitamins for later use by
the body.
4 It produces important proteins that affect the blood, such as
factors that are essential in making the blood clot after an
injury.
5 It cleans the blood by removing or chemically changing drugs,
alcohol, and other substances that may be harmful or toxic to
the body.
Gall bladder is a hollow, pear-shaped organ. It is located in
the right upper part of the abdomen, just beneath the liver. The
function of the gall bladder is to store bile made by the liver.
During a meal, the gall bladder contracts and squeezes bile into
the intestine.
The GIT is muscular and contracts rhythmically (peristalsis) to
conduct food through its length. The timing, strength, and
coordination of muscular contraction are influenced by the
composition of food, and by specific body-brain conditions. If
the contractions are too vigorous, crampy pain is experienced.
If the contractions are too frequent, diarrhoea results.
Constipation occurs when contractions are sluggish and slow, or
if sustained contractions occur. Disorders of peristalsis are
referred to as ' motility disorders'.
The GIT senses when something wrong enters inside and reacts defensively to get rid of it. The sensing, deciding, and acting functions of the GIT are achieved by a complex system of nerves and cells of the immune-defense network, which extends along its surface. The surface of the GIT is covered by mucosal tissue. A continuous sensing apparatus lies in the mucosa, which is known as Mucosa Associated Lymphatic Tissue (MALT). Sensors in MALT trigger responses causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting burning, pain, itching and swelling at the anal exit.
Inflammation of various parts of the GIT is described by
attaching the suffix 'it is' to the name of GIT part; thus
we have descriptive diagnostic names such as gastritis
(stomach), colitis(colon), ileitis(ileum or small intestine),
Hepatitis (liver), cholecystitis (gall bladder).
When there is malfunction in the GIT, our attention is directed
to the abdomen by a variety of discomforts, pain, noise,
distention, and abnormal bowel movements.
Symptoms of Digestive Disorders
