Digestive System: Pancreas, Intestines, & Elimination

Epidermis, Dermis, Hypodermis

The outer skin layer made of epithelial cells, which are like tiny building blocks. No blood vessels are here. Most of these cells are keratinized, meaning they’re toughened up with a protein called keratin.

The layer beneath the epidermis made mostly of connective tissue, which is like the glue holding things together. It has blood vessels, sensory receptors (like tiny detectors), hair follicles (where hair grows), sebaceous glands (making oil for your skin), and sweat glands. Also, it has elastic and collagen fibers, which keep your skin strong and stretchy.

he bottom layer below the dermis made of fat and connective tissue, acting like a cushion between your skin and muscles. It also helps keep you warm by insulating your body.

• Endocrine role • Exocrine role

Releases insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin into the blood.

• Enzyme Release: Acinar cells release enzyme-rich juices to break down food. • pH Balance: Duct cells release bicarbonate to balance stomach acidity. • Digestive Enzymes: Pancreatic amylase digests starch, lipase digests fats, proteases break down proteins, and nucleases digest nucleic acids.

Answer: The small intestine. Explanation: Think of the small intestine like a busy factory with tiny workers called enzymes. These enzymes, both from the pancreas and the small intestine’s own microvilli, work hard to chop up carbs, fats, proteins, and nucleic acids.

• Duodenum • Jejunum • Ileum

Receives chyme from the stomach and neutralizes it with juices from the pancreas. Most digestion happens here. Short & wide. Iron absorption.

Main site for absorption of nutrients, thanks to its tiny finger-like structures called microvilli.

The longest part, it absorbs vitamin B12, bile salts, and any leftovers from the jejunum.

Absorbs vitamin K, biotin, sodium ions, chloride ions, and water. By the time food reaches here, most of the water has already been taken out, but the large intestine squeezes out even more water and grabs those last few vitamins and minerals before sending the leftovers out of your body.

Ileocecal valve Cecum Colon: ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon. Rectum

Part of stomach: Receives food from the small intestine and has a blind-ended tube called the appendix.

The gate between two rooms: the small intestine room and the large intestine room. When food finishes its journey through the small intestine and is ready to move into the large intestine, this “gate” opens up like a door, letting the food pass through.

Ascending colon: right side of the abdomen. Transverse colon: crosses horizontally from right to left. Descending colon: travels downward on the left side of the abdomen. Sigmoid colon: It is an S-shaped segment that connects the descending colon to the rectum

The ENS is a network of neurons in the gut lining that controls digestion. (It works independently of the brain and spinal cord. Communicates with the central nervous system (CNS) via the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.)

Boosts; Slows it down.