THE LOWER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

By Ms. Johnson

The Liver

In the digestive system, the liver produces bile which breaks down fat particles into small droplets. Bile is stored in the gall bladder.

The Pancreas

After bile from the liver breaks down the fat the pancreas produces enzymes to break down starches, proteins, and fats.

The Small Intestine

The small intestine is where most of the chemical digestion takes place.

As liquid moves through the small intestine it mixes with enzymes from the liver and the pancreas.

The small intestine absorbs most of the nutrients that we use.

Absorption in the Small Intestine The small intestine have many millions

of tiny finger-shaped structures called villi.These villi increase the surface area and

allow for more nutrients to be absorbed. The circulatory system carries the

nutrients to the rest of the body.

The Large Intestine

The large intestine is where the remaining water is removed from the mixture of nutrients.We have many bacteria that help us to

break down this mixture. The remaining water is reabsorbed by

the large intestine. After the large intestine the material is

compressed by the rectum.