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The Liver
Also known as the gastrointestinal system, the digestive system remains one of the most complex human anatomy systems. With a stretch of about 10 meters long from the mouth to the anus, the massive system is responsible for converting food into valuable forms that can be used by tiny human cells for the body to function effectively. There several organs and accessory organs that make up this massive system (Saladin, 2014). We will be discussing the Liver as an accessory organ and its contributions to the digestive system.
The Liver is the largest gland in the human body, with about 1 to 2 KGs. The ribs offer protection to the Liver under the diaphragm on the right side of the abdomen. The primary function of the Liver in the digestive system is the production of bile. The Liver is capable of producing and secret bile volume of up to one Liter in a day. Yellowish in color and alkaline in composition, the bile liquid comprises water, cholesterol, mineral salts, electrolytes, bile salts, and other waste products. Once produced, the bile liquid is stored in the gallbladder and secreted through the gall ducts (Saladin, 2014).
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When bile is required for digestion, it is released into the duodenum, where it acts as a neutralizer of the acidic chyme removed from the stomach. It also helps in the emulsification of fat globules to smaller pieces that can be easily digested chemically by the lipase enzyme. The absorption of vitamin K would not be possible without bile playing a role in the process. Excess bile is stored in the gallbladder wait for the next meal (Saladin, 2014).
Apart from the production of bile, the Liver performs other functions such as;
It is used in the detoxification of poisonous toxins, alcohol, and drugs in the body.
Responsible for the synthesis of Glycogen from glucose then stores the Glycogen that ensures the body sugar levels are regulated accordingly. When needed, the Liver also breaks Glycogen back to glucose to stabilize blood sugar level.
It deactivates several hormones, such as insulin and sex hormones.
Waste breakdown.
Roles of Mucus in saliva.
Mucus production sometimes referred to as secretion, is controlled by the nervous system. The nervous system dictates the amount of saliva produced and the type of saliva to be secreted. The nervous system ensures that the process remains automatic depending on the demand and type of food present in the digestive system. Just as when dogs produce saliva whenever they see food, it's the same process. The nervous system parasympathetic nerves secrete the mucus once triggered in the salivary glands.
Mucus provides moisturization, lubrication, and the protection of the digestive system that starts in the mouth. The mucous cell is responsible for the production of this saliva component. In the mouth, mucus is used to moisten food from its initial hard state when it reaches the mouth. Mucus also helps keep the oral membrane moisten to avoid cracks whenever they come into contact with air (Saladin, 2014). The mucus membrane provides the first-ever defence of the gastrointestinal system against the infiltration of pathogens, corrosive digestive enzymes, food particles, microbial by-products, and food-poisoning toxins. While giving a blanket to the digestive system's interior parts, mucus gives the luminal contents the lubrication. It provides a barricade to bacteria and antigens found in the luminal track. The moisture content within the mucus layers alongside the digestive system's epithelial barriers provides a vital role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis while providing a production environment for biofilm and pathogenic microbial.
Mucus also plays an essential role in helping the myenteric plexus in movement, and these cells act as mucus renewal cells. Digestive system motility helps regulate the needed mucus levels by spreading the mucus layer along the digestive system's walls. The Myenteric neuron cells help the coordination of this movement in a process called migrating motor complexes. The process helps keep the digestive system's walls clean by offering cleaning services and flushing the undigested materials and mucus down the small intestine. Through such movements, these neurons can perform mucus renewal along the digestive tract.
References
Saladin, K. (2014). Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
