tarmesystemet

Tarmesystemet, also known as the digestive system or gastrointestinal tract, is a complex series of organs responsible for breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste products from the body. It begins at the mouth, where food is ingested and mechanical digestion starts with chewing, and chemical digestion begins with saliva. From the mouth, food travels down the esophagus, a muscular tube, to the stomach. In the stomach, food is mixed with digestive juices, including acid and enzymes, which further break it down into a semi-liquid mixture called chyme.

The chyme then moves into the small intestine, the primary site for nutrient absorption. Here, the chyme is further processed by enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver and gallbladder. The walls of the small intestine are lined with villi and microvilli, which greatly increase the surface area for efficient absorption of digested carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals into the bloodstream.

After passing through the small intestine, the remaining indigestible material enters the large intestine. The large intestine's main role is to absorb water and electrolytes from the remaining waste, forming solid feces. Bacteria in the large intestine also produce some vitamins. Finally, the feces are stored in the rectum before being eliminated from the body through the anus during defecation. The entire process, from ingestion to elimination, is a coordinated effort involving muscular contractions, hormonal signals, and enzyme secretions.