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Digestive System Vs Urinary System

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In exploring module 5, much information was able to be learned about the structure, function, and age associated changes or dysfunctions of both the digestive system and the urinary system of the human body. Although through the exploration of this module, I have learned that the digestive system and the urinary system are comprised of their own distinct features and functions, I would say the most significant knowledge I have gained from module 5 would be that of the digestive system. More specically, the most significant knowledge that was gained of the digestive system itself, was that of the actual digestive processes. The process of digestion is a complex series of activities including ingestion, propulsion, mechanical or physical digestion, …show more content…

Ingestion is the act of food actually entering the alimentary canal through the mouth, where said food is chewed and mixed with saliva from the glands in our mouth. The act of chewing and mixing the food with saliva initiates the digestion process, breaking down some carbohydrate with some lipids and enables the food to be formed into a bolus so this food can be swallowed. After this first process, the second process of propulsion takes place, which is accomplished be the act of swallowing the food itself and the act of peristalsis. Peristalsis moves food through the esophagus to the stomach via alternating waves of muscle contractions in the esophagus, where once the food has made its way to the stomach by the process of propulsion the next process of mechanical occurs in the stomach. Although yes, the act of chewing the food in the mouth is a form of mechanical digestion, mechanical digestion also occurs in the stomach where the food is churned in order to be broken down even further and also occurs in the small intestines where muscles continue to further break down the food into smaller pieces. As for chemical digestion, it has previously been mentioned that this process initiates in the mouth via the breakdown of carbohydrates by enzymes in the

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