The Digestive System - Unit 12

Nachos are delicious. And versatile because today they're also going to help us learn a thing or two about your digestive system. Nachos can provide us with energy and raw materials, by first ingesting something nutritious, propelling it through the alimentary canal where it will be mechanically broken down, and chemically digested by enzymes until my cells can absorb their monomers and use them to make whatever they need. And eventually, there will be pooping.

Nearly 200 years ago, Alexis St. Martin was shot in the stomach. He was saved by local army doctor William Beaumont, but had to live out his remaining years with a gaping hole in the stomach -- allowing Beaumont to learn a lot about how human digestion works. So today we're going to walk you through that process. We'll cover how mechanical and chemical digestion start in the mouth and continues in the stomach, where it’s pummeled by acids and enzymes and turned into chyme. We will also go over the stomach’s cephalic, gastric, and intestinal phases of digestive regulation.

Nachos are great...if you are among the lucky ones whose body can digest them. When digestion goes according to plan, the small intestine performs most of your chemical digestion in the duodenum, while accessory organs including the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas contribute enzymes that all but finish the job. Then your large intestine, which is actually shorter than the small intestine, tries to extract the last bit of nutrition, including the occasional attempt to turn nachos into energy, which for most humans, ends in gassy failure.

Paul Andersen starts with a brief description of feeding methods. He then details all of the major parts within the human digestive system. This tour starts in the mouth, move down the esophagus, through the stomach, small investing, colon and rectum. He explains how all of the major macromolecules are digested and absorbed by the body.

The notorious 'Silent But Deadly' fart - fact or fiction?

Where does the poop go when the "brown goes down?"

Okay seriously, with all the talk about Gluten-Free diets, what is it really? Get the scientific facts on whether gluten is actually bad for you, in our latest video:

Could these creepy crawlers be the future of food?

Explore the question: How much can you eat?

A gross question and maybe a more gross answer...

Joey "Jaws" Chestnut holds off tremendous challenge from Matt Stonie on the way to his 8th consecutive title at Nathan's annual hot dog eating competition in Coney Island - Brooklyn, New York. Joey downs 61 hot dogs in 10 minutes!

http://www.ted.com Marcel Dicke makes an appetizing case for adding insects to everyone's diet. His message to squeamish chefs and foodies: delicacies like locusts and caterpillars compete with meat in flavor, nutrition and eco-friendliness.

A gastric bypass is a surgical procedure designed to support an obese patient with weight control. This surgery involves creating a small stomach pouch from the existing stomach and attaching it to the small intestine. During this interactive laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, you will oversee every aspect of the procedure. When you are finished you will learn important information regarding gastric bypass recovery and gastric bypass diets. Whenever you are ready, scrub in, put on your gloves, and grab your endoscopic camera so we can get started!