Ruoansulatuselimistön

Ruoansulatuselimistö, also known as the digestive system, is a complex network of organs responsible for breaking down the food we eat into nutrients that the body can absorb and use for energy, growth, and repair. This process begins in the mouth, where food is mechanically broken down by chewing and chemically digested by enzymes in saliva. From the mouth, food travels down the esophagus, a muscular tube, to the stomach.

In the stomach, food is mixed with strong acids and enzymes that further break it down into a semi-liquid mixture called chyme. This chyme then moves into the small intestine, where the majority of nutrient absorption occurs. The small intestine is a long, coiled tube lined with villi, finger-like projections that increase the surface area for absorption. Here, enzymes from the pancreas and liver, along with enzymes produced by the intestinal wall itself, complete the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

After nutrient absorption in the small intestine, the remaining indigestible material passes into the large intestine. The primary function of the large intestine is to absorb water and electrolytes from this material, forming solid waste, or feces. Bacteria in the large intestine also produce certain vitamins, such as vitamin K. Finally, the feces are stored in the rectum and eliminated from the body through the anus during defecation. This entire process, from ingestion to elimination, ensures that the body receives the essential components from food to maintain its functions.