Salivary GlandsThe mouth contains the salivary glands, which is a digestive gland. The salivary glands produce a liquid substance called saliva. The saliva acts as a cleanser to the teeth by dissolving food particles so that they may be eaten. Saliva also contains enzymes and mucus. There are three major pairs of salivary glands. The parotid gland carries its contents and drains the mouth. The submandibular gland empties its contents on the floor of the mouth on both sides. The sublingual gland process several small sublingual ducts that are released onto the floor of the mouth in an area posterior to the submandibular ducts.EsophagusThe esophagus is a muscular tube, which carries food and liquids from the throat to the stomach for digestion after it has been chewed. The food then trav ...view middle of the document...
Some of its functions are the following. (1) Holds a meal in the upper portion and releases it a little at a time into the lower portion for processing. (2) The muscles contract and mash the food into a sticky, slushy mass. (3) The cells in the stomach produce acid that kills germsLiverThe liver cleanses the blood circulating throughout your body and processes nutritional molecules, which are given out to the tissues. The liver is located at the top of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm and has two main lobes. The liver is also known as a "gland".Large IntestinesThe large intestine absorbs fluids and recycles them into the blood stream and compacts the waste in to fences. Fences are about ¾ water and ¼ protein, fat, undigested food dried digestive juices and dead bacteria.Small IntestinesSmall intestines are looped back and forth upon itself and is held in place by tissues which are attached to the abdominal wall .The small intestine has a receiving area for chemicals and partially digested food from the stomach, most of the nutrients area absorbed into the blood and the liquids and bodily waste everyday.AppendixMost digestion takes place almost continuously in a watery, slushy environment. The large intestine absorbs water from its inner contents and stores the rest until it is convenient to dispose of it. Attached to the first of the large intestine is a troublesome pouch called the (vermiform) appendix. The appendix has no function in a modern day human, but it is believed that it has been lots of help to our primitive ancestors.RectumThe rectum is a short, muscular tube that forms the lowest portion of the large intestine and connects it to the anus, Feces collects here until pressure on the rectal walls cause nerve impulses to pass the brain, which then sends messages to the voluntary muscles in the anus relax, permitting expulsion.
