Understanding Why You Have Digestive System Disorders

The digestive system either breaks down the molecules of food and drink into smaller molecules or it carries it to another part of the digestive system. Once the molecules are small enough for the body to be used to build cells or fuel the body the digestive system and the parts that aid it then carry it to the cells of the body that use what the digestive system has been digesting.

In order to understand why you have digestive system disorders it is important to know how your digestive system is suppose to work. A disorder is simply a system or part of a system that is not functioning the way it is suppose to. A system is a connection of parts all working together to accomplish a task or set of tasks. In the case of your digestive system the organs and body parts that are either in the digestive system or aiding the digestive system all have the common goal of turning what we eat and drink into nutrients that the body can use to grow cells that are needed for the purpose of bodily functions or it is used for energy to fuel those bodily functions.

The digestive system either breaks down the molecules of food and drink into smaller molecules or it carries it to another part of the digestive system. Once the molecules are small enough for the body to be used to build cells or fuel the body the digestive system and the parts that aid it then carry it to the cells of the body that use what the digestive system has been digesting. There are 6 steps that accomplish the task that the digestive system does. All of these six steps require movement through the system and wave-like movement called, “peristalsis”, accomplishes the movement. Muscles that propel the food and liquid along the digestive tract accomplish peristalsis. Here are the 6 steps that are taken during the whole process of digesting what we eat and drink:

Step #1 is that the body smells or tastes food and drink and salivates because of hunger or thirst as part of getting ready to eat or drink. We put the food and drink into our mouth and the first movement (swallowing) occurs. This first movement is a voluntary movement. Voluntary, because we decide to swallow, it is a conscious act on our part to do the swallowing. Once this first act of movement (swallowing) is accomplished all the other movements along the digestive tract are not involuntary. Involuntary means that the body automatically does it without our having to make the decision for the movement to happen. Our nerves control this involuntary movement action.

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Step #2 happens in the esophagus, which is what connects the throat and the stomach. The stomach is the first organ in the involuntary process that is under the control of our nerves. The esophagus moves what we eat and drink from the back of our throat to the entrance of our stomach.

Step #3 involves the ring like valve that closes the passage between the two organs (esophagus and stomach). When the food gets near to the ring, the muscles around the ring relax and allow food to pass from the esophagus into the stomach.

Step #4 is when the food enters the stomach, and completes the 3 tasks of the stomach. The 3 tasks that the stomach has to do with the food is to store it, mix it, and empty it.

At the top of the stomach is the large muscle that relaxes in order to accept the large volumes of food and liquid that we take in each day. This is also where the stomach stores the food and liquid right after it accepts the material.

Now, the lower part of the stomach gets into the action, by mixing the food, liquid, and digestive juices that are produced by the stomach. This mixing action is accomplished by muscle action.

The last task of the stomach is to empty the contents of the stomach into the small intestine.

Step #5 is where the food is digested while in the small intestine into smaller molecules. It dissolves the molecules of food by the juices of the pancreas, liver, and intestine, and then mixes the contents of the intestine and pushes them forward to allow for further digestion.

Step #6 is the last step in the digestion process and that is that the nutrients from all the digested material need to be absorbed by the walls of the intestine. The parts of the material that are not to be used as nutrients for the growth of cells or energy for the body are called "wastes". The waste products are made up of not only the unused parts of what has been digested but also food parts known as "fiber", older cells that have been shed by the mucosa. All of these waste products are now moved into the colon. Once in the colon the waste products remain for approximately one to two days until muscles move them along to be expelled as a bowel movement out your anus.

Disorders of the Digestive System:

When any of the tasks of the digestive system do not function properly it is either because of congenital or non-congenital issues with the organs or parts of the body involved in the digestive process. Congenital issues are present at birth.

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