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During digestion water is reabsorbed into the large intestine.
Chemical digestion breaks food down into its simplest forms.
On Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery," learn about the process of digestion in human bodies.
In this clip from Discovery Channel's series, "Assignment Discovery," the process of human digestion is explained.
Why in the world does your body need 24 feet of intestines? Discover the answer in this program as you tour the digestive tract and learn how the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines work.
The large intestine stores whatever was not absorbed by the small intestine as food, later eliminating it as waste. It also absorbs water and makes vitamin K from bacteria that live in the bowel.
A person is lactose intolerant when the enzymes that digest lactose are not working. Symptoms include severe gas and discomfort. Many people lose the ability to digest lactose after the age of five.
When food reaches the small intestine, bile from the gall bladder and enzymes help make the food molecules small enough to be absorbed. The wrinkles in the small intestine increase the surface area of absorption.
Ulcers are holes in the stomach. They come in different degrees. Scientists now know that ulcers are caused by bacteria.
When stomach contents flow back into the esophagus because of a weakness in the sphincter, it is painful and can cause chronic inflammation.
Sometimes the digestive system malfunctions, and we experience a stomachache, gas, diarrhea or constipation.
