Your journal entries should be creative and include descriptions of all the alimentary and accessory organs, including their secretions. You should also mention which type of digestion is happening in each organ and include the nervous or endocrine system controls that affect the digestion of your molecule. Remember, a fatty acid and a sugar molecule are digested and absorbed in a slightly different way. Be sure your journal covers the correct voyage for the molecule you choose.

QUESTION

Did you know it takes at least six hours for food to get to the end of your small intestine, and then it takes an average of 40 hours for food to make it through your large intestine? That means the food you eat today is still with you tomorrow, and the day after that.

In this assessment, you will journal the hourly life of a fatty acid or a sugar molecule as it makes its final voyage through the digestive tract. You only need to journal the first seven hours of the digestive passage. This means you should have a total of seven journal entries.

Your journal entries should be creative and include descriptions of all the alimentary and accessory organs, including their secretions. You should also mention which type of digestion is happening in each organ and include the nervous or endocrine system controls that affect the digestion of your molecule. Remember, a fatty acid and a sugar molecule are digested and absorbed in a slightly different way. Be sure your journal covers the correct voyage for the molecule you choose.

ANSWER

 The Digestive Journey: A Seven-Hour Voyage of a Sugar Molecule

In this journal, we embark on an intriguing voyage through the digestive tract, tracing the path of a sugar molecule as it undergoes digestion and absorption. With each passing hour, we will explore the various organs, secretions, and processes involved in the remarkable journey of this essential nutrient.

Hour 1: The Mouth

Our journey commences in the mouth, where the process of digestion begins. As I enter this cavernous space, teeth tear and grind the food into smaller, more manageable pieces. Saliva, produced by the salivary glands, moistens the food, facilitating its movement and initiating starch digestion through the enzyme amylase. The parasympathetic nervous system triggers salivation in response to the presence of food, preparing it for the subsequent stages of digestion.

Hour 2: The Stomach

With the rhythmic contractions of the esophagus, I bid farewell to the mouth and descend into the acidic chamber of the stomach. Here, gastric glands secrete hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen, which combine to form the active enzyme pepsin (Molnar, 2015). Pepsin breaks down complex sugars into simpler forms, while the acidic environment denatures proteins. The hormone gastrin, released by the stomach lining, stimulates the release of digestive juices and promotes stomach contractions, aiding the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food.

Hour 3: The Small Intestine

Leaving the stomach, I enter the small intestine, a remarkable organ where most nutrient absorption occurs. The pancreas, stimulated by the hormone secretin, releases pancreatic amylase and other enzymes into the duodenum. These enzymes continue the digestion of sugars into smaller molecules, such as glucose and fructose. The gallbladder, triggered by the hormone cholecystokinin, squirts bile into the duodenum, facilitating the emulsification and absorption of fats. The small intestine, with its vast surface area and numerous villi, efficiently absorbs the digested sugar molecules into the bloodstream.

Hour 4: The Liver

Now absorbed into the bloodstream, I travel to the liver, a vital metabolic powerhouse. The liver plays a crucial role in maintaining blood sugar levels. Here, excess glucose is stored as glycogen or converted into triglycerides for long-term energy storage. The liver also regulates the release of glucose into the bloodstream, ensuring a steady supply of energy to the body. Hormones such as insulin and glucagon, secreted by the pancreas, coordinate the liver’s metabolic activities, ensuring a balance between sugar storage and release.

Hour 5: The Large Intestine

As I exit the small intestine, my journey continues into the large intestine, a land of microbial activity. Though sugar absorption is complete, the large intestine still has a significant role to play (Cummings & Macfarlane, 1997). Intestinal bacteria feast on undigested carbohydrates, fermenting them and producing short-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids serve as an energy source for the colonocytes lining the large intestine. Additionally, the large intestine absorbs water, electrolytes, and some vitamins, further contributing to the body’s overall health.

Hour 6: The Rectum

Nearing the end of my voyage, I reach the rectum, where indigestible residues are temporarily stored before elimination. Here, feces take shape through the absorption of water and the compaction of waste materials. The rectum triggers the urge for defecation, and the coordination between the muscular contractions of the colon and the relaxation of the anal sphincter ensures a controlled and timely release of waste.

Hour 7: Farewell

As the seventh hour concludes, my journey nears its end. The sugar molecule has completed its remarkable voyage, providing energy and nourishment along the way (University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Food Science and Human Nutrition Program, n.d.). From the initial moments in the mouth to the final farewell in the rectum, the digestive system, guided by an intricate web of nervous and endocrine controls, has efficiently broken down and absorbed this vital nutrient.

Conclusion

The seven-hour journal of a sugar molecule’s digestive passage takes us through a series of incredible transformations and interactions with various organs and secretions. From the initial processes of chewing and salivation to the final steps of absorption and elimination, the digestive system orchestrates a symphony of complex mechanisms. Understanding and appreciating this journey deepen our appreciation for the incredible complexity and efficiency of the human body.

References

Cummings, J. R., & Macfarlane, G. J. (1997). Collaborative JPEN-Clinical Nutrition Scientific Publications Role of intestinal bacteria in nutrient metabolism. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 21(6), 357–365. https://doi.org/10.1177/0148607197021006357 

Molnar, C. (2015, May 14). 11.2 Digestive System. Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/biology/chapter/11-2-digestive-system/

University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Food Science and Human Nutrition Program. (n.d.). The Digestive System. Pressbooks. https://pressbooks.oer.hawaii.edu/humannutrition/chapter/the-digestive-system-2/