Diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal tract. Treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

The modern pace of life most often negatively affects human health. Malnutrition, snacking on the go, consumption of junk food - all this negatively affects not only the general condition, but also some vital organs. In this article, I would like to tell you what diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can occur and how you can deal with them.

What it is?

First of all, you should talk about what the gastrointestinal tract itself is. This is a very important digestive organ, thanks to which a person receives from food the charge of energy necessary for life and normal existence. Sections and organs of the gastrointestinal tract:

Oral cavity. Here the eaten food is subjected to mechanical processing. Tongue, teeth, saliva - all this is necessary in order to grind food, soften it and prepare it for the next stage.
Esophagus. After mechanical processing, food enters the esophagus. This is a kind of intermediate stage between the stomach and the oral cavity. Serves exclusively for transporting food.
Stomach. This is where the digestive process begins. It is worth saying that when a person is already chewing the first piece of food, he begins to produce gastric juice and other important enzymes. The stomach itself, during contractions, grinds food, and the first processes of absorption of useful substances into the walls of the stomach take place immediately. Fun fact: an empty stomach measures half a liter in volume. However, it can stretch and become about 8 times larger!
Small intestine. After processing in the stomach, food is sent to the small intestine - the main absorbing organ. All three of its sections are covered with the smallest villi, thanks to which the absorption of nutrients occurs.
Colon. It is with them that the human gastrointestinal tract ends. Here the last processes of absorption take place, as well as the transformation of waste into feces and their removal to the outside through such a part of the large intestine as the rectum.

It is important to say that the gastrointestinal tract would not be able to function normally without auxiliary organs. These include the salivary glands, liver, and pancreas. And the actions of the whole organism are controlled by the endocrine and nervous systems, as well as the brain. From this we can draw a small conclusion that the digestion of food is a very complex process in which multiple organs of the human body are involved.

Main symptoms

If a person's gastrointestinal tract does not work properly, the symptoms may be as follows:

Belching. It can be observed both in practically healthy people (belching with air), but also in those who have some problems with the gastrointestinal tract (sour, bitter belching or belching with food).
Heartburn. This is an unpleasant burning sensation during the movement of food through the esophagus. Most often occurs if a person has a weak esophageal pulp. It also occurs against the background of increased secretion of the stomach. Burning is most often observed behind the sternum, however, in some cases, acidic contents can enter the mouth.
Vomiting, nausea. These are often observed companions of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. We can say that this is a kind of protective reaction of the body.
Heaviness of the stomach. The field of eating appears, there may also be such a symptom as rumbling and overflow in the stomach.
Appetite disturbance. With diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, often a person simply does not want to eat. This may be a physiological moment when the body wants to eat, or a psychological one, when a person simply does not want to again taste the unpleasant sensations that may appear after eating food.
Other symptoms. If a person's gastrointestinal tract does not work properly, the symptoms may be as follows: weakness, lethargy, deterioration of the hair, nails, skin, pain is possible. Also, patients often experience anemia, stool disorder (or constipation), mental disorders.

Gastritis

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are very different and can affect each of the departments of this organ system. So, most often in patients there is a disease such as gastritis. With this disease, the mucous membrane of the stomach is affected. Most often, the causes of this disease are malnutrition: snacking on the go, consumption of cold or hot food, poor chewing, or consumption of harmful foods such as sauces, seasonings, chips, crackers, etc. It is important to say about what irritates the stomach also nicotine, alcohol, chemicals (by the way, they can be part of some food products). Long-term use of antibiotics, drugs for tuberculosis can also cause gastritis. There are many subspecies of this disease, which depend on the nuances of damage to the gastric mucosa.

Duodenitis

This disease affects the duodenum. There is inflammation of its mucosa, there may be erosion, atrophy. This disease can be both independent and accompanying with diseases such as pancreatitis, food allergies, cholecystitis. According to statistics, it affects more men than women. The cause of the occurrence is again malnutrition, as well as alcohol consumption. The main symptomatology in this disease: epigastric pain (prolonged, severe). There may be an eructation of air, nocturnal hungry pains, heaviness and "bursting" of the abdomen after eating. The illness is long-term. If its symptoms have occurred at least once in a person, henceforth it will be necessary to adhere to a certain diet and give up bad habits.

peptic ulcer

The gastrointestinal tract can also be affected by ulcers - foci of inflammation that affect not only the mucous membranes, but also soft tissues ("burning" the mucous membranes). Today, doctors distinguish gastric and duodenal ulcers - the main subspecies, but there can also be symptomatic and drug-induced ulcers. The origin of this disease is multifactorial. However, scientists say that the main reason is still a violation of local factors of protection and aggression, as well as the ingestion of such a harmful bacterium as Helicobacter pylori. It releases a toxin that destroys the mucous membrane and promotes the formation of ulcers. The symptoms of this disease are different and depend on the nuances of the disease. So, most often, patients have pain (including hungrier nights), vomiting, nausea, and heartburn also occurs. The most common complication of this disease is bleeding.

Bleeding

If the patient observes bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to seek medical help. After all, this can be a signal of a serious gastrointestinal disease. Most often, this symptom is also observed in people who suffer from erosive gastritis, stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, intussusception of the intestines, and also if the patient has benign tumors or oncological diseases. Symptoms of bleeding: blood can be observed in vomit or feces. The admixture can be scarlet or dark brown (this happens when blood mixes with gastric juice). Also, the patient will experience lethargy, loss of strength, and pressure may drop. Again, I would like to say that in this case it is necessary to call an ambulance. Before the doctor arrives, the patient should lie down and not move.

infectious diseases

Also, the patient may have infections of the gastrointestinal tract. They are provoked by the simplest microorganisms that enter the human body. The most common carriers of these microorganisms are insects such as flies and cockroaches. The most common infectious disease is amoebic dysentery. The large intestine is affected (ulcers may occur), and extraintestinal abscesses may occur. With this disease, the mucous membrane is affected. It gradually begins to swell, secrete mucus, and then pus. In this case, digestion, absorption of nutrients, as well as the excretion of waste by the body are disturbed.

Dysbacteriosis

What other common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are there? So, quite often people suffer from dysbacteriosis. However, it must be said that this is most often not an independent, but a concomitant disease. Almost any disease that concerns the gastrointestinal tract can cause it. However, at least it is caused by taking antibiotics or other medications. What happens in the body with this disease? So, in a person, the normal ratio of pathogenic and beneficial bacteria to the body is disturbed, unnecessary microorganisms appear that “kill” the intestinal microflora. Dysbacteriosis most often occurs in children than in adults. The main symptoms: increased stool, changes in its nature (liquid or semi-liquid with pieces of undigested food), belching and bad breath may occur. Associated symptoms: brittle nails and hair, irritability, signs of anemia. The general condition of the patient also worsens - lethargy, weakness, drowsiness appear.

Appendicitis

The human gastrointestinal tract also includes an appendix, a appendix that can become inflamed. The causes of this disease are many: food allergies, helminthic invasion, fecal calculi. In modern medicine, scientists distinguish 4 main forms of the disease:

Catarrhal form, when only the mucous membrane is affected.
Phlegmous form, when all tissues of the appendix are affected.
Gangrenous form, when the patient develops tissue necrosis.
Perforated form, when dead tissue begins to flake off.

The main symptomatology in this disease: pain. The pain appears suddenly, at first it is felt in the epigastrium, and later it passes into the right iliac region (in medical practice - Kocher's syndrome). The patient may also have a fever, sometimes the waste of feces is delayed, and vomiting is less common. In acute appendicitis, surgery is necessary.

Colitis

Colitis is a whole group of diseases that affect the intestines. In this case, the work of the gastrointestinal tract is also disrupted. Most often, the causes of this disease are intestinal infections, allergies, poisoning, or dysfunction of other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Main symptoms: diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation.

Treatment

Treatment of the gastrointestinal tract should be carried out depending on what kind of disease the patient has. At the same time, it is important to say that for any violations in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to seek medical help. Since self-medication can lead to negative consequences and a significant deterioration in the patient's condition. However, I still want to say a few words about what the doctor can prescribe to the patient:

Antacids. Their main action is the neutralization of gastric acid. These can be drugs such as Almagel, Rennie, Relzer, Talcid.
Alginates. Neutralizes the increased acidity of the stomach. The most common drug in this group is Gaviscon.
Blockers. The main action is to reduce the flow of hydrochloric acid into the lumen of the stomach. In this case, drugs such as Kvamatel, Tagamed can be prescribed.
Inhibitors. Also designed to inhibit the secretion of hydrochloric acid. These are such medications as Omez, Lanzap, Cisagast.
Prokinetics, i.e. drugs that perfectly stimulate gastrointestinal motility. These are Cerucal, Bimaral, Mozaks.
Antispasmodics. Treatment of the gastrointestinal tract is often impossible without the use of drugs that relieve pain to the patient. So, it can be such medicines as Spazmalgon, Papaverine, No-Shpa.
Enzyme preparations that speed up metabolic processes and improve the patient's digestion. This is Festal, Pencreatin.
Laxatives may be prescribed for those patients who have a problem such as constipation. Preparations: "Forlax", "Purgen".
Antibiotics. These are antimicrobial agents that are most often used for infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Preparations: Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, Nifuroxazide.
Probiotics. Drugs that restore the normal intestinal microflora: "Linex", "Enterol".
Sorbents. Their main action is to bind and remove pathogenic toxic substances from the body. These can be drugs such as Smecta, Enterosgel.

The gastrointestinal tract (hereinafter referred to as the gastrointestinal tract) is the main organ system that ensures the normal functioning of the human body. Without food and water, no living creature can live more than a day. The gastrointestinal tract is the basis that processes food, transforming it into vital energy.

Gastrointestinal tract treatment and disorders in children

The main functions of the digestive tract are:

digestion of food;
extracting useful elements from it;
resorption of nutrients into the blood;
removal of unnecessary and undigested elements.

The gastrointestinal tract consists of several departments. In turn, the departments consist of many auxiliary organs and glands. Their work is closely interconnected, ensuring the continuous movement of food through the body.

The work of the digestive tract is due to external and internal factors. The external ones include the feeling of hunger, smell, salivation, visualization of food. So the brain sends signals to the central nervous system about the need to “throw fuel”. Internal factors begin with food entering the mouth. The process of processing, splitting food into “necessary” and “extra” elements starts, a signal about satiety enters the brain.

The main organs of the gastrointestinal tract

Oral cavity
Pharynx
Esophagus
Pancreas
Directly stomach
Liver
gallbladder
Intestines (consists of the large and small intestines)
Anal opening.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Treatment of the gastrointestinal tract

Today there is a certain list of drugs for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in newborns and older children. Depending on the diagnosis, they can be combined or used separately. After surgery, supportive enzyme preparations, painkillers and symptomatic agents are prescribed. An important role is played by the age of the child and his diet. The younger the child, the milder and safer the effect of the drug should be.

Drugs for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in children

Antidiarrheals:

with astringent effect;
with adsorbing action;
improving gastrointestinal motility;
herbal preparations;
intestinal antiseptics.

Antiemetics.
Means for the normalization of intestinal microflora:

prebiotics;
probiotics;
symbiotics.

Drugs to reduce flatulence:

simethicone;
combined funds;
phytopreparations.

enzyme preparations.
Laxatives:

to soften feces;
stimulating intestinal peristalsis.

Violation of the digestive tract in newborns

In the absence of pathologies in the development of the organs of the digestive system, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract occurs due to an improperly organized process of eating, or due to an improperly selected diet.

The main symptoms of a gastrointestinal disorder:

vomit;
regurgitation;
irregular stool.

The main factors provoking the violation are:

overfeeding;
underfeeding;
improperly selected food;
excessive amount of swallowed air during feeding.

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract do not appear from scratch. Any disorder and pathology has its cause. So, do not forget about the genetic factor. If close relatives of a child have chronic diseases of the digestive system, then such a child is at risk. With special care, you need to control the diet of such a baby, do not overload his gastrointestinal tract, introduce complementary foods on time. If you have any suspicious symptoms, be it vomiting or diarrhea, you should contact a pediatric gastroenterologist. The doctor will diagnose and prescribe treatment. Timely detection of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract will allow

The human gastrointestinal tract is an amazing and fragile organ system. , which are closely related to each other. The failure of one organ will certainly cause the failure of another, and then the disruption of the entire system.

The digestive tract can be compared to a food processing plant. If you take care of each machine, the plant will work properly. It is the same with digestion - supporting each organ and the body as a whole, an uninterrupted and efficient process of processing food into useful substances is ensured.

For the proper development of your child's digestive system, you need to follow these simple guidelines:

Introduce complementary foods on time - you should not "stuff" the child with everything from birth. Until six months, he needs only breast milk or a high-quality formula. From 6 months, fruits, vegetables, light cereals are carefully introduced, starting with one teaspoon per day.
If a child has abnormalities in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, strictly follow the doctor's recommendations. Do not self-medicate, do not increase the dosage of drugs, get diagnosed on time. If a child (or nursing mother) is prescribed a diet, strictly follow it. Most diseases are successfully cured in childhood.
Don't overfeed your baby. Better not to eat than to overeat. Do not overload the children's gastrointestinal tract - an extra load on the internal organs will not add to their health. If the child does not eat well, it means that he spends little energy. An active baby always has a good appetite.
Prioritize quality food. Don't buy fake products. Sour cream should be sour cream, not "sour cream", juice should be natural, not "drink with added juice". Yes, such food is 2 times cheaper, but such a product will not harm at best. There is no benefit from "imitated" food.
Forget about chips, carbonated sugary drinks, fast food, and forbid your child to eat such food. The above products are a direct path to gastritis. Today, every third student has problems with the gastrointestinal tract due to daily consumption of such delicious, but terribly unhealthy, addictive food.
Limit your sugar intake. 50 grams per day is the top of the norm for an adult. Keep in mind that sugar is found in almost every purchased product today - yogurt, mayonnaise, sauce, pastries.

The gastrointestinal tract is the basis of the life of the body. A healthy body will always have a supply of energy and material for building healthy cells.

According to statistics, in recent years, disorders and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract occupy a leading place among other diseases. Residents of big cities are especially susceptible to them. The reason for this is the wrong lifestyle and constant stress. Therefore, by the age of 30, every fourth person suffers from gastrointestinal diseases.

Characteristics of the digestive system

It's no secret that the digestive tract plays a very important role in the life of the body. With it, we get vitamins, trace elements, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber and useful acids. Some of them serve as a building material for cells, provide us with energy. Other substances contribute to the smooth functioning of organs and systems. Therefore, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can not only disrupt the normal rhythm of a person's life, affecting his health, but in some cases lead to death.

The gastrointestinal tract consists of the following components: oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach and intestines, which includes thin, thick and straight sections. The main functions of all these organs are: the breakdown of food, the removal of its residues from the body, the production of beneficial enzymes that contribute to proper digestion and absorption of the necessary substances. Without the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, a person feels discomfort, he feels unwell, which, due to the lack of treatment, can become chronic.

Causes of diseases

There are a lot of them and most of them belong to the wrong way of life. The main causes of gastrointestinal diseases are as follows:

Unbalanced diet: constant diets, overeating, harmful snacks and chewing on the go, regular visits to fast food establishments, lack of healthy fiber, instead, the predominance of animal fats and indigestible carbohydrates in the diet.
Ecology: poor quality of drinking water, the presence of a large amount of nitrates and pesticides in vegetables, antibiotics and preservatives in meat products.

Acute and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract have a number of signs that make it easy to determine if you have problems with this part of the body. These include the following symptoms:

Abdominal pain. With ulcers, it is sharp, with frequent localization, in the case of appendicitis and hernia - strong, pulsating, when a person has colic - cramping.
Heartburn. Painful sensations are characteristic for her with an ulcer, intensification - with a hernia.
Belching. Sour speaks of indigestion, with the smell of rotten eggs - about a pathological delay in food in the stomach and intestines.

Among the symptoms, vomiting and nausea are also distinguished, which are more characteristic of chronic diseases. For example, for gastritis. If the vomit contains spotting and clots, it may be an open ulcer or stomach cancer. If the patient regularly suffers from flatulence, he may be diagnosed with dysbacteriosis, secretory pancreatic insufficiency, complete or partial intestinal obstruction.

Other signs

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract also have less pronounced symptoms that indicate damage to the digestive system: bad breath, a feeling of bitterness, the appearance of a white coating on the tongue, poor appetite (especially aversion to meat products), constant thirst, increased salivation, a sharp decrease in body weight, the development of anemia, pallor, dizziness, weakness, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, prolonged stool disorder (constipation or diarrhea), as well as the appearance of bloody discharge in the feces.

These symptoms in themselves are not dangerous, but can disrupt the normal rhythm of life, affect its quality, and also indicate the development of pathology. Therefore, the sooner you see a doctor, the faster and easier the treatment will be, the therapy will work effectively and the result will be complete healing. If the disease is not detected at an early stage and is not cured, it can provoke serious complications or it will regularly worsen until the end of life.

Major diseases

They are characteristic of a larger percentage of patients who seek medical help. Firstly, it is gastritis, the development of which is provoked by the Helicobacter pylori bacterium, as well as nutritional errors, the presence of bad habits and constant neuroses. With gastritis, the mucous membrane of the gastric walls suffers, because of which a person feels pain, suffers from indigestion. Secondly, it is an ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. For her, among other things, painful sensations are characteristic, and also heartburn, problems with the assimilation of food. An ulcer is formed when the organs of the gastrointestinal tract are damaged and the integrity of tissues is violated, and this can lead to life-threatening complications.

The third most common disease of the gastrointestinal tract is colitis. Occurs under the influence of pathogenic bacteria, against the background of infection. It is localized in the intestinal mucosa and is inflammatory in nature. Nonspecific colitis causes ulcerative lesions that cause peritonitis, intestinal bleeding, malignancy, and obstruction.

Other diseases

Their list is huge. What diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are most common among patients? First of all, it is pancreatitis and dysbacteriosis. The first refers to inflammatory diseases of the pancreas, which is characterized by vomiting, nausea, indigestion and pain. The second is the consequences of a change in the natural state of the intestinal microflora, as a result of which its full functioning is disrupted, problems arise with the digestibility of food, its normal excretion from the body.

The most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract include such ailments: cholecystitis - inflammation of the gallbladder, which is accompanied by bitterness in the mouth, nausea, pain, problems with stools and dyspeptic symptoms, cirrhosis of the liver - a deadly disease in which large-scale damage to the cells of the organ occurs. Digestive diseases are also called hemorrhoids and appendicitis.

Clinical picture in children

Unfortunately, recently there has been an increase in cases of digestive pathologies in babies. Gastrointestinal diseases in children occur due to several factors: poor ecology, heredity and malnutrition. As for the latter, it manifests itself in the uncontrolled use by minors of carbonated drinks, fast food products, sweets that contain emulsifiers, dyes and preservatives. Doctors say that intestinal diseases in babies most often appear at the age of 5-6 and 9-11 years. The clinical picture in this case is as follows: the baby has a stomachache, feels sick or vomits, he complains of diarrhea or constipation.

Even babies are not immune from disease. Often they suffer from so-called colic. The reason is artificial feeding. Therefore, doctors do not get tired of insisting that breast milk is the best food for the smallest children. It not only has a beneficial effect on the stomach, but also helps to strengthen the immune system. An organism that receives a sufficient amount of natural vitamins, trace elements and antibodies from mother's milk can also provide a decent resistance to various bacteria that cause FGT diseases.

Intestinal diseases in children

Acute intestinal diseases of babies belong to a separate group of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. These are salmonellosis and dysentery, which cause intoxication, dehydration and various dyspeptic disorders. These symptoms are very dangerous and require immediate hospitalization. Interestingly, it is children who most often suffer from intestinal infections. This is due to the fact that in babies the protective mechanisms of the body are still imperfectly working. The reasons are also the neglect of sanitary standards by children and the physiological characteristics of their gastrointestinal tract.

Acute infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can provoke a delay in physical development, "kill" the immune system and cause a number of serious complications and irreversible consequences. Usually they are accompanied by a complete lack of appetite, fever, pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The kid complains of weakness and fatigue, he is inhibited, lethargic. Such a child needs medical care: antibiotic therapy is prescribed by a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Treatment

First you need to contact a specialized doctor - a gastroenterologist. Only after passing the necessary tests and examinations, he will make an accurate diagnosis. Treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, its duration and intensity will depend on the specific disease, the form and stage of its development, the degree of neglect, the general condition of the patient. Usually drug therapy is used, but in some cases surgical intervention is urgently required.

Tactics are selected individually. The following drugs are usually prescribed:

Antacids - neutralize stomach acid.
Alginates - normalize acidity.
Prokinetics - stimulate gastrointestinal motility.
Antispasmodics - relieve spasms of smooth muscles.
Antibiotics and probiotics.
Enterosorbents - against intoxication.
Antimicrobial agents.
Enzymatic digestive preparations, etc.

In combination with drug treatment, traditional medicine is also used: infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants. For example, immortelle, nettle, yarrow, lemon balm. They are very effective, but you can only take them under the supervision of your doctor.

Diet for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

All diseases from this series are so different that specific recommendations can be given only after a detailed study of the diagnosis. The diet is subject to adjustment in each individual case. But there are also general requirements for the patient's diet. First, you need to eat often - 6 times a day. Portions should not be large, it is best if the dish is rare or crushed. So you will not overload the stomach and intestines. Secondly, the patient needs to drink 2 liters of water per day.

Diet for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract must be sparing. Preference should be given to soufflé, mashed potatoes, omelettes, low-fat fish and meat broths. Fried, smoked, canned, pickled, salted - under a strict ban. It is also necessary to abandon various sauces, semi-finished products, seasonings and spices. Vegetables that cause fermentation processes should also be excluded. These are all legumes, corn, peas, cabbage, turnips and radishes. Other vegetables must be thoroughly boiled or stewed. Food should be fresh and easy to digest. The more fiber in the diet and less refined food, the better the digestive tract will work.

Prevention

First of all - it's all the same balanced and proper nutrition. Prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract includes such measures: compliance with the rules of sanitary cooking and personal hygiene. Thus, you protect yourself and your family from intestinal infections. Eat only healthy foods: vegetables, fruits, greens, low-fat dairy products, fish and meat. Try to have the correct ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in your daily diet.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are very "like" passive people. Therefore, try to move more, play sports, spend a lot of time outdoors. An excellent option would be swimming, light running, aerobics and even walking. Give up bad habits - they provoke malfunctions in the intestines and stomach. Try to protect yourself from stress, do not be too nervous, take natural sedatives: valerian or motherwort. If the first alarming symptoms occur, immediately consult a doctor - this way you will avoid the progression of the disease and prevent its transition to a chronic form, and, of course, achieve a complete recovery.

The digestive tract is a complex organ whose function is to digest food.. In the process of digestion, food undergoes physical (mechanical) and chemical processing. In addition, in the digestive tract, the intake (absorption) of digested substances is carried out, as well as the excretion and removal from the body of undigested substances and components harmful to the body.

The physical processing of food in the digestive tract is in grinding and grinding products. Chemical processing consists in the gradual splitting of complex macromolecules alien to the body, which are part of food products, into simpler compounds. After absorption, these compounds are used by the body to synthesize new complex molecules from which its own cells and tissues are built.

Chemical processing of nutrients in the digestive tract can only be carried out with the participation of enzymes, or, as they are also called, enzymes. Each of the enzymes involved in digestion is secreted only in specific parts of the digestive tract and works only with a certain reaction of the environment - acidic, neutral or alkaline. Each enzyme acts only on a specific substance, to which it must fit, like a key to a lock.

The state of the digestive tract and its activity are closely related to the state of the body. Any dysfunction of the digestive tract immediately affects the state of health and well-being and can cause various diseases. It is unlikely that there will be a person who has never encountered any violations in the digestive system in his life.

Diseases of the digestive tract have different causes, symptoms, methods of treatment and prevention.. Each person should have an idea about the structure and functions of the digestive tract, about its diseases, about ways to maintain its activity at the level necessary to maintain the health of the whole organism, as well as about the home measures available to him for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract.

The digestive tract is a complex system consisting of several parts that perform specific functions. This is a kind of conveyor along which the food that has entered through the mouth moves, being digested and absorbed on its way. The remaining undigested compounds are excreted from the digestive tract through the anus, or anus.

The digestive tract consists of the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach and intestines (Fig. 1). The intestine, in turn, is divided into several departments that differ from each other both anatomically and functionally. These are the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine), the small intestine, the large intestine, and the rectum ending in the anus. Each of the listed departments performs only its inherent functions, secretes its own enzymes and has its own pH (acid-base balance). Let us dwell briefly on the work of each of these departments.

Mill at the entrance

HOW the oral cavity is arranged, everyone knows, so the anatomy of the oral cavity can not be described. But not everyone knows what happens to food there. Yogis compare the mouth to a mill, the activity of which determines the health of the entire digestive tract and the quality of further food processing.

Digestion of food begins in the oral cavity, that is, its mechanical and chemical processing.. As mentioned above, mechanical processing consists in grinding and grinding food with teeth during chewing, as a result of which the food should turn into a homogeneous mass. In this case, food is mixed with saliva.

Prolonged, thorough chewing of food is very important.. This is necessary so that the food is as well as possible saturated with saliva. The better the food is crushed, the more saliva is released. Well-chopped, abundantly saturated with saliva food is easier to swallow, gets into the stomach faster, and then it is easily digested and well absorbed.

In addition, saliva that has soaked food prevents putrefaction and fermentation, since it contains an enzyme-like substance, lysozyme, which very quickly dissolves microbes in food. Poorly chewed food is not prepared for further digestion in the stomach, so hasty food and bad teeth often cause gastritis, constipation and other diseases of the digestive tract. It turns out that they are very easy to prevent without resorting to drugs: it is enough to chew food well. Chewing your food for a long time is also beneficial because you are satiated with less food, which helps to avoid overeating.

Chemical changes in food in the mouth occur under the influence of saliva enzymes working at an alkaline pH.. Saliva contains two slightly alkaline enzymes (pH 7.4-8.0) that break down carbohydrates. Under the influence of food, saliva can become neutral or even slightly acidic, and then the action of saliva enzymes immediately stops. This is very important to know and take into account when choosing products that are consumed at the same time so that saliva does not acidify.

food corridor

From the oral cavity, food enters the esophagus. The esophagus is a muscular tube covered with a mucous membrane from the inside, which penetrates through the diaphragm into the abdominal cavity and connects the oral cavity with the stomach. The length of this tube in an adult is about 25 cm. The esophagus is compared with the corridor along which food passes from the oral cavity to the stomach.

The esophagus begins at the level of the 6th cervical, and passes into the stomach at the level of the 11th thoracic vertebra. The wall of the esophagus is able to stretch when the food bolus passes, and then contract, pushing it into the stomach.

Liquid food passes through the esophagus in 0.5-1.5 seconds, and solid food in 6-7 seconds. Good chewing saturates the food with more saliva, it becomes more liquid, which facilitates and speeds up the passage of the food bolus into the stomach, so food should be chewed for as long as possible.

Sizeless bag

In the stomach, food accumulates and, just like in the mouth, is subjected to mechanical and chemical influences.. Mechanical effects are that the walls of the stomach contract and grind food lumps, mix it with gastric juice, facilitating and improving digestion. Chemical effects consist in the breakdown of proteins and fats contained in food with the help of enzymes secreted in the stomach, as well as in preparing them for final digestion and absorption in the intestines. Enzymes of gastric juice work only in an acidic environment.

The stomach is a hollow organ (a kind of bag) with a capacity of about 500 ml, which, however, if necessary, can hold 1-2 liters of food. In the absence of food, the walls of the stomach collapse. When filled, the bag is able to stretch and increase in size due to the elastic wall.

In the stomach, there is an entrance, a bottom and a body, which make up most of the stomach, as well as an exit, or pyloric part. The pylorus has a locking device - a sphincter, or valve that opens into the duodenum (the so-called upper very short part of the small intestine). The sphincter prevents the premature transition of food masses from the stomach into the duodenum.

The wall of the stomach is made up of three layers. The inner layer is mucous, the middle layer is muscle tissue and the outer layer is the serous membrane that covers the walls of the abdominal cavity and all the internal organs located in it. In the thickness of the mucous membrane of the inner wall of the stomach there are many glands that produce gastric juice, saturated with enzymes. Depending on the place of excretion, the reaction of gastric juice is directly opposite.

The juice secreted by the glands of the bottom and body of the stomach (where the food entering the stomach is processed) contains hydrochloric acid. The gastric juice secreted in this part of the stomach is acidic (pH 1.0-2.5). This is due to the fact that the enzymes of the gastric juice work only in an acidic environment, and a food bolus with an alkaline pH comes from the oral cavity. Therefore, before the enzymes in the stomach can begin to work, the food bolus must be acidified.

The juice secreted in the pyloric part of the stomach does not contain hydrochloric acid and has an alkaline pH of 8.0. This is due to the need to neutralize the acid-soaked food lump in the upper sections of the stomach before it passes into the duodenum, whose enzymes can only work in an alkaline environment. Nature has wisely provided for such at least partial neutralization of the sour food bolus in the stomach, before this bolus passes into the small, short (about 30 cm) duodenum. Without this neutralization, the process of digestion in it would be too sharply disturbed by the acid coming from the stomach.

Gastric juice

COMPOSITION and properties of gastric juice depend on the nature of the food. On an empty stomach, no juice is secreted. Its release begins 5-6 minutes after the start of the meal and continues as long as the food is in the stomach.

The strongest juice effect on the stomach is meat, meat broth, fish soup, decoction of vegetables, as well as intermediate products of protein breakdown formed in the stomach. Saliva, bile, weak solutions of acids, as well as small amounts of a weak solution of alcohol, also stimulate the secretion of juice.

The effect of mineral water depends on the time of its use in relation to food. Drinking water before meals or at the same time stimulates the secretion of gastric juice, and drinking water 1-1.5 hours before meals depresses.

In addition, the secretion of juice in the stomach is stimulated by substances entering the bloodstream, which were formed during the digestion of food in the stomach, duodenum and small intestine. The hormones of the pituitary, adrenal, thyroid and pancreas, acting on the nervous system through the blood, also affect gastric secretion.

It is important to know that negative emotions- anger, fear, resentment, irritation and others - completely stop sap secretion. Therefore, you can not sit down at the table in the presence of negative emotions. First you need to calm down, otherwise digestion will be disturbed.

Fats, getting into the stomach, inhibit the secretion of gastric juice for 2-3 hours, as a result of which the digestion of proteins eaten simultaneously with fats is disturbed. After 2-3 hours after eating fats, the secretion of juice in the stomach is restored under the influence of fatty acids, which by that time are formed from split fats.

Gastric juice contains enzymes that act on proteins and fats.. What happens in the stomach with proteins? The gastric juice contains the enzyme pepsin, which breaks down proteins into intermediate products, which, however, cannot yet be absorbed by the body. This intermediate breakdown of proteins in the stomach prepares them for final breakdown and absorption in the small intestine.

What happens in the stomach with fats? The lipase enzyme present in gastric juice breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. However, as a rule, lipase breaks down only emulsified (crushed into small particles) milk fats in the stomach, while non-emulsified fats remain unsplit. Fats, meanwhile, as already mentioned, inhibit the secretion of gastric juice.

There are no enzymes that act on carbohydrates in gastric juice. However, a lump of food coming from the oral cavity (especially if it is large and well saturated with saliva) is not immediately saturated with acidic gastric juice. This usually takes 30-40 minutes. During this time, the breakdown of starch by the saliva enzyme ptyalin, which began in the oral cavity, can continue inside the food bolus.

In addition to the ability to break down proteins and fats, gastric juice has protective properties.. The acid found in the gastric juice quickly kills bacteria. Even vibrio cholera, once in the gastric juice, dies in 10-15 minutes.

Food is moved through the stomach by stomach contractions. A. The walls of the stomach begin to contract at the entrance, and then their contraction goes along the entire stomach to the pylorus. Each such contraction wave lasts 10-30 seconds.

The residence time of food in the stomach depends on its chemical composition, nature and physical condition.(liquid, semi-liquid, solid). Solid foods stay longer in the stomach. Liquid and mushy begins to leave the stomach after a few minutes. Warm food leaves the stomach faster than cold food.

Food can stay in the stomach from 3 to 10 hours. Only liquid or semi-liquid food gruel passes into the intestines. Water leaves the stomach very quickly, in almost 10-15 minutes. Carbohydrates containing a lot of fiber also leave the stomach quickly. High-protein foods, especially meat, stay longer. Fatty foods stay in the stomach the longest, which, as already mentioned, slows down the process of juice secretion in the stomach for 2-3 hours.

Absorption of digested products in the stomach is very small. It mainly occurs in the pylorus area. There, carbohydrate breakdown products formed under the action of saliva enzymes, as well as water and alcohol, are slowly absorbed.

Thin but longest

BASIC food is digested in the small intestine - the longest (about 5 m) part of the digestive tract A. In the small intestine, it is necessary to highlight the upper, shortest part of it (27-30 cm) - the duodenum, because this small segment of the small intestine is one of the most important parts of the digestion of food.

Anatomically, the duodenum covers the pancreas in the form of a horseshoe - from the top right and bottom, at the level of the 12th thoracic and 2nd lumbar vertebrae. In the duodenum, gastric digestion passes into the intestinal. Gastric digestion, as you already know, prepares food for further digestion in the intestines.

In the duodenum, the proteins, fats and carbohydrates ingested with food are brought to a state in which they can be absorbed into the blood and enter the cells for their further use. However, in the duodenum itself, absorption is very small. It absorbs no more than 8% of digested food. The main absorption of digestion products occurs in the small intestine.

Food passes from the stomach into the duodenum in small portions- through an opening in the lower part of the pylorus, in which there is a sphincter, or a locking device (it regulates the passage of the food mass into the duodenum). The sphincter consists of circular muscles that either contract to close the opening or relax to open it.

When an acidic food gruel enters the pyloric part of the stomach, the acid contained in the food irritates the receptors in its wall, and the hole opens. A portion of acidic food gruel passes from the stomach into the intestine, in which, in the absence of food, the pH is alkaline (7.2-8.5).

The transition of food gruel into the intestine continues until the contents of the duodenum are acidified. Then hydrochloric acid, supplied with food gruel into the duodenum, begins to irritate the receptors of its mucous membrane, as a result of which the sphincter closes and remains closed until the incoming portion of food is alkalized.

Alkalinization of the incoming portion of food gruel is carried out by intestinal juice, which has an alkaline reaction. In addition, the alkaline digestive juice of the pancreas, which plays an important role in the digestive process that occurs in the duodenum, as well as bile from the liver, is involved in alkalization. After alkalization of the incoming portion of the food slurry, the reaction in the duodenum returns to the alkaline one, and the sphincter opens again, skipping the next portion of the acidic food slurry from the stomach.

Such cyclicity in the work of the sphincter contributes to the fact that the enzymes of the intestinal juice, which can only work in an alkaline environment, periodically get the opportunity to process each newly incoming portion of food.

In addition to changing the pH, the degree of filling of the duodenum also plays a role in regulating the transition of food from the stomach to the intestines. If its walls are stretched with food gruel, the sphincter closes, and the flow of new portions of food from the stomach stops. It resumes only after the accumulated food passes further and the walls of the duodenum relax again. The process of digestion, of course, is disturbed. This is another point explaining why it is so bad to overeat and why it is so important to eat a small amount of food in one sitting.

Digestion in the duodenum can only occur with the action of three types of digestive juices at once - intestinal, pancreatic and bile produced by the liver. Under the influence of the enzymes contained in these juices, proteins, fats and carbohydrates are digested.

pancreatic juice

Pancreatic juice begins to be secreted 2-3 minutes after the start of a meal and is released only during the digestion of food. The secretion of pancreatic juice, as well as gastric, stimulated by the sight of food, its smell, and sounds associated with food.

The duodenal mucosa produces the inactive hormone prosecretin, which, under the influence of gastric acid, is converted into the active hormone secretin. Secretin is absorbed into the blood and stimulates the secretion of pancreatic juice by pancreatic cells. With reduced acidity of gastric juice, hydrochloric acid does not enter the duodenum, secretin formation does not occur, and the activity of the pancreas is disturbed.

Meanwhile, pancreatic juice plays a major role in the digestive process that occurs in the duodenum. It contains enzymes that work only in an alkaline environment and break down proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

The composition and properties of pancreatic juice depend on the nature of the food.. Protein food stimulates the release of enzymes that break down proteins. carbohydrate- Enzymes that break down carbohydrates. oily- enzymes that break down fats. By the way, the fats contained in food inhibit not only the secretion of gastric juice, but also the secretion of pancreatic juice.

Active causative agents of pancreatic juice secretion are vegetable juices and various organic acids - acetic, citric, malic and others. The secretion of pancreatic juice, as well as the secretion of gastric juice, is influenced by the cerebral cortex and certain hormones. In a person who is in an excited state, it decreases, and in a state of rest it increases. Therefore, I would like to remind you that it is not recommended to sit down at the table in a state of irritation, fear or anger. It is necessary to wait a little, calm down and only after that proceed to the meal.

How and by what enzymes are proteins, fats and carbohydrates broken down in the duodenum? There are several enzymes that break down proteins in the duodenum. They are called proteolytic, that is, enzymes that break down proteins (proteins). The main proteolytic enzyme is trypsin. Interestingly, trypsin is secreted in an inactive form and only after contact with one of the enzymes of the intestinal juice secreted by the cells of the intestinal wall becomes highly active.

Trypsin takes over from pepsin, a proteolytic enzyme in gastric juice that cannot work in an alkaline environment. Trypsin breaks down the intermediate products of protein breakdown, formed in the stomach under the action of pepsin, into amino acids. Amino acids are the end product of protein breakdown.

There are several enzymes that break down carbohydrates in pancreatic juice. This is amylase, which breaks down starch polysaccharide into disaccharides, which remains unsplit after digestion of food in the oral cavity. There are also several enzymes that break down disaccharides into monosaccharides.

Lipase is an enzyme that breaks down fats in an alkaline environment, almost all of it is secreted in an inactive state and is activated by bile coming from the liver, as well as calcium ions. Fats are broken down into glycerol and fatty acids, which in turn stimulate the secretion of pancreatic juice. Alkalis and bile emulsify fats and this increases their digestion by lipase.

Liquid(especially water) enhances secretion of pancreatic juice(sparkling water and cranberry juice are the strongest). Therefore, dehydration should not be allowed. It is necessary to take care of the constant presence of fluid in it and to prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of water, especially in hot weather.

Why do we need bile

In addition to pancreatic juice, bile is also involved in the digestion of food in the duodenum.. Bile is continuously formed in the liver - the largest gland of the human body, located in the right hypochondrium. Bile enters the duodenum only during digestion. In the absence of digestion, the flow of bile into the duodenum stops, and the bile is stored in the gallbladder, where it is stored until it is needed. About 1 liter of bile is formed in the liver per day.

There is gallbladder- one that accumulates in the gallbladder and from which, if necessary, it quickly enters the intestines, as well as hepatic bile entering the intestine directly from the liver. Bile contains bile acids and bile pigments, fats and inorganic acids. The reaction of bile is slightly alkaline.

Bile begins to flow into the duodenum 20-30 minutes after food enters the mouth and 8 minutes after the first sip of any liquid. The formation of bile is stimulated by a number of substances called cholagogues. These include protein breakdown products, fats, bile itself, acids entering the intestines (hydrochloric, malic, acetic, and others).

The flow of bile into the intestines is also stimulated by nerve impulses. arising from irritation of the receptors of the gastric mucosa under the influence of food entering there. Bile enters the intestines in a conditioned reflex way, for example, when talking about food.

The value of bile in digestion is enormous. Bile performs the following functions:

neutralizes (together with intestinal and pancreatic juices) acidic food slurry coming from the stomach to the intestines;
binds pepsin, ejected from the stomach along with food gruel, protecting trypsin from its destructive action;
enhances the action of all enzymes;
emulsifies fats, contributing to their breakdown (without emulsification, very little fat would be digested);
converts fats into a form soluble in water, thereby facilitating their digestion and absorption;
takes part in the breakdown of carbohydrates and sugars, as it contains a small amount of enzymes that break down carbohydrates;
inhibits the action of microbes and their reproduction, thereby delaying the processes of decay and fermentation in the intestine;
increases the ability of the intestinal mucosa to be absorbed (from the duodenum, the food mass passes into the small intestine).

At the final stage

In the SMALL intestine, the digestive processes are completed. Here, under the influence of enzymes, all the previously undigested proteins, fats and carbohydrates are split. Digestion in the small intestine is "parietal", that is, it occurs directly near its walls.

In the small intestine, the final breakdown of the intermediate products of food digestion into amino acids, glucose and fatty acids occurs. The absorption of these end products of food digestion mainly occurs here, in the small intestine.

Without intestinal juice, the completion of the digestion process in the small intestine would be impossible. Therefore, the allocation of intestinal juice in it is very important. In order for the digestive juice to begin to stand out in the small intestine, the action of a number of factors is necessary. The secretion of intestinal juice is stimulated by:

hydrochloric acid, not neutralized after leaving the stomach and reaching the small intestine;
pancreatic juice from the duodenum (it dramatically increases the secretion of intestinal juice);
breakdown products of proteins, fats and carbohydrates;
conditioned reflexes caused by the type of food;
mechanical irritation of food gruel receptors in the intestinal wall.

Everything that remains after processing in the small intestine passes into the large intestine, which is so called in connection with a diameter reaching 7 cm in some places. At the point where the small intestine passes into the large intestine, there is a valve that does not let the solid food masses that have come out of it back into the small intestine. However, 45% of the liquid can pass back, and gases pass back into the small intestine in 72% of cases.

Diseases of the digestive tract have different causes, symptoms, methods of treatment and prevention. Each person should have an idea about the structure and functions of the digestive tract, about its diseases, about ways to maintain its activity at the level necessary to maintain the health of the whole organism, as well as about the home measures available to him for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract.

The digestive tract is a complex system consisting of several parts that perform specific functions. From the above, you have already got an idea about such departments as the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, small intestine, learned about the role of bile, gastric and pancreatic juices. Let's continue the conversation about the structure and functions of the digestive tract, namely the large intestine.

The large intestine is conditionally divided into several parts- blind, colonic and straight. The diameter of the large intestine varies from 2 to 6-7 cm. The large intestine changes volume and shape depending on the amount of content and the state of this content (solid, liquid, gaseous).

Cecum is a bag 3-8 cm long, located in the right iliac region, below the junction of the small intestine into the large intestine. From it departs a vermiform blind process - the appendix. At the junction of the small and large intestines there is a valve that prevents the return of food masses from the large intestine to the small intestine.

Colon, into which the caecum passes, is so called because it, like a rim, borders the abdominal cavity. In the colon, ascending, transverse and descending, as well as sigmoid are distinguished.

The ascending one, about 12 cm long, goes from the right iliac region to the right hypochondrium, where it forms a right angle and passes into the transverse part. At this point, the large intestine passes near the liver and the lower end of the right kidney. The transverse part of the colon has a length of 25 to 55 cm. It goes from the right hypochondrium to the left, where it passes into the descending one not far from the spleen.

Although the distance between the right and left hypochondrium is only 30 cm, the length of the transverse colon is very variable, so it often sags. Often the loop of her sagging can reach the level of the navel, and sometimes even the pubis. The descending part, about 10 cm long, goes from the left hypochondrium to the left iliac region, where it passes into the sigmoid. The sigmoid part, about 12 cm long, is located in the left iliac fossa, where it goes to the right and down and then passes into the rectum.

The rectum represents the terminal portion of the large intestine and the end of the digestive tract. It accumulates cal. It is located in the cavity of the small pelvis, begins at the level of the 3rd sacral vertebra and ends with the anus in the perineum. Its length is 14-18 cm, the diameter varies from 4 cm at the beginning to 7.5 cm in its widest part, located in the middle of the intestine, then the rectum narrows again to the size of a gap at the level of the anus.

In fact, the rectum is not straight. It runs along the sacrum and forms two bends. The first bend is the sacral (convexity posteriorly, respectively, the concavity of the sacrum) and the second bend is the circumflex coccyx (convexity anteriorly).

Around the anus in the subcutaneous tissue is a muscle - the external sphincter of the anus, blocking the anus. At the same level there is an internal anal sphincter. Both sphincters close the intestinal lumen and hold stool in it. On the mucous membrane of the rectum, just above the anus, there is a slightly swelling annular area - the hemorrhoidal zone, under which there is an area of loose fiber with a venous plexus embedded in it, representing the anatomical basis for the formation of hemorrhoids.

In men, the rectum is attached to the bladder, seminal vesicles and prostate gland, women- to the uterus and the back wall of the vagina. There are many nerve endings in the wall of the rectum., since this is a reflexogenic zone, and fecal excretion is a very complex reflex process that is controlled by the cerebral cortex.

All the remnants of food that did not have time to be absorbed in the small intestine, as well as water, pass into the large intestine. A lot of organic matter and bacterial decay products enter the large intestine. In addition, it contains substances that are not amenable to the action of digestive juices (for example, fiber), bile and its pigments (bilirubin hydrolysis products), salts, and bacteria.

The time for food masses to move through the large intestine is equal to half the time for food to move through the entire digestive tract from the oral cavity to the anus. Usually, the contents pass through the small intestine (distance about 5 m) in 4–5 hours, and the large intestine (distance 1.5–2 m) in 12–18 hours. What happens in the large intestine?

In the initial section of the large intestine, the enzymatic breakdown of the food masses remaining undigested in the upper sections of the digestive tract is completed; the formation of feces (the digestive juice of the large intestine contains a lot of mucus necessary for the formation of feces). Digestive juice in the large intestine is secreted continuously. It contains the same enzymes found in the digestive juice of the small intestine. However, the action of these enzymes is much weaker.

In the large intestine, not only enzymes secreted by cells of the intestinal mucosa are involved in the digestive processes, but also enzymes secreted by intestinal bacteria, mainly lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and some representatives of E. coli. In the large intestine, unlike the overlying parts of the digestive tract, there are many useful microbes that can digest fiber that reaches the large intestine unchanged, since there are no enzymes for its digestion anywhere in the overlying parts of the digestive tract.

From the fiber digested by microbes, carbohydrates and other substances are released, which are then digested by intestinal juice enzymes and absorbed. In addition, recently Academician A.M. Ugolevykh found that there are microbes in the colon that can synthesize amino acids, which were previously considered essential, since the human body cannot synthesize them.

It was believed that these amino acids can only be ingested with animal proteins, so it was considered absolutely necessary for a person to consume animal proteins with food. After the discovery of Ugolev, it became clear why vegetarians do without meat and at the same time do not suffer from a lack of essential amino acids, but, on the contrary, get sick less and are generally much healthier than meat-eaters.

In addition to amino acids, beneficial microbes that live in the large intestine synthesize a number of vitamins, especially B vitamins.

All the remnants of food that did not have time to be absorbed in the small intestine pass into the large intestine, as well as products of bacterial putrefaction and substances that are not amenable to the action of digestive juices (for example, fiber).

It is very important to preserve the microflora of the colon. To do this, first of all, you should abandon antibiotics, which kill the beneficial intestinal microflora and cause dysbacteriosis. As a result of dysbacteriosis, pathogenic microflora accumulates in the intestine, contributing to the development of many diseases.

The digestive tract is a complex system consisting of several parts that perform specific functions. From previous publications, you have already got an idea about such departments as the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, small and large intestines, learned about the role of bile, gastric and pancreatic juices. Let's talk about such a function, like suction.

ABSORPTION of the end products of food digestion is a physiological process inherent in living cells. As a result of the enzymatic breakdown of nutrients, they become water-soluble and form aqueous solutions that are absorbed through the cells of the mucous membrane of the intestinal walls, pass into the blood and lymph, are carried by them throughout the body and enter individual organs and cells, where they are used for the needs of the body.

In the stomach, the products of carbohydrate breakdown, which began in the oral cavity, are absorbed very slowly and in a small amount. In the duodenum, a very small amount (about 8%) of the products formed there is also absorbed.

The main site of absorption is the small intestine and the ascending colon. In the ascending colon, digestion of proteins is completed, the products of which are immediately absorbed. In addition, water is absorbed in large quantities here. The total absorptive surface of the intestine reaches 5 square meters. m. The absorbed substances enter the blood and lymph, since the walls of the intestine are dotted with blood and lymphatic vessels.

So, the main functions of the large intestine are:

absorption of food that did not have time to be absorbed in the small intestine;
absorption of large amounts of water;
creating favorable conditions for beneficial microflora;
the formation of feces;
the reservoir function of the large intestine, which consists in the accumulation and retention of feces until they are brought out. This accumulation occurs mainly in the sigmoid and left descending colon, but sometimes stool accumulates in the caecum and ascending colon. The content of these sections of the large intestine, which has become denser and dry, becomes a foreign body and is pushed out first into the sigmoid colon, and then into the rectum and further out;
removal of toxins from the body from the blood. For example, salts of heavy metals, introduced through the mouth, are absorbed in the small intestine, enter the liver, from there into the blood and are excreted partly by the kidneys, and partly by the large intestine. Cholesterol is also excreted in the large intestine. So the colon plays a huge role in the life of the body.

It remains to talk about the role of the last section of the digestive tract - the role of the rectum, on the correct operation of which depends on the health of the digestive system and the health of the whole organism as a whole. Slags and toxins are removed through the rectum, and any delay in removal immediately affects the general condition of the body: mood, well-being, and performance deteriorate.

The rectum performs two functions - static and dynamic. The static function contributes to the accumulation and retention of feces. Normally, stool is a dense mass with different shades of brown, consisting of 70% water and 30% food debris, dead bacteria and pubescent intestinal cells. The daily weight of feces is approximately 350-500 g.

The accumulation of feces in the rectum is possible due to its ability to expand and the ability of the sphincter to keep feces in the intestine. The main purpose of the sphincter is to prevent the involuntary release of intestinal contents and gases. If the strength of the sphincter decreases, then the intestinal contents cease to be retained and begin to be released during intestinal exertion, coughing and laughter. The sphincter can be weakened to such an extent that there is a constant incontinence of gases and liquid feces, and with a very strong weakening, incontinence of even dense stools is possible.

The dynamic function of the rectum is the ability to eject its contents out through the anus, that is, to perform an act of defecation, which is a complex reflex process. A person's urges appear when the walls of the rectum are irritated by the stool that fills it. If the rectum is empty, such an urge occurs only in a painful condition (for example, with intestinal obstruction, ulcerative colitis, infectious diseases of the intestine).

The muscles of the intestinal wall and all the abdominal muscles take part in defecation. During a bowel movement, you need to take a deep breath, close the glottis, relax the sphincter of the anus and tighten the abdominals. With a deep breath, the diaphragm lowers, the volume of the abdominal cavity decreases, and the pressure in the abdomen necessary for the ejection of feces (especially with constipation) increases. When straining, the pressure in the abdomen increases even more. It can be 1.5 times higher than blood pressure.

With a single bowel movement, all the contents are immediately ejected from the rectum. With two-moment - first one is thrown out, and after 3-7 minutes - the second part of the feces. After the first ejection, there is a feeling of incompleteness, so, as a rule, a person continues to be in the toilet until the second ejection.

Sometimes the second release occurs after 15-45 minutes. This is not dangerous to health, but a person, not knowing that there is a two-stage defecation, immediately after the first ejection of feces begins to push, trying to completely empty the intestines. Additional repeated tension of the abdominal press leads to stagnation of blood in the veins of the rectum, which contributes to the development of hemorrhoids and anal fissures, as well as rectal prolapse and chronic colitis.

In 90% of patients with hemorrhoids, a two-stage type of defecation is observed. In addition, excessive stress can lead to complications from the cardiovascular system, in particular to the development of hypertension. Therefore, two-stage defecation must be fought.

Usually two-stage defecation is fixed from childhood as a conditioned reflex. Therefore, it is very difficult, but it can and should be replaced with a one-time one. To do this, you must force yourself to leave the toilet immediately after the release of feces, not paying attention to the feeling of incomplete emptying. Later, when the rectum fills up again and a new urge appears, you need to perform a second simultaneous act of emptying. Thus, by suppressing the feeling of unfinished defecation with an effort of will, you can accustom yourself to one-step defecation in one visit to the toilet.

In 70% of cases, defecation in healthy people is one-stage, in 25% of cases - two-stage, and about 5% of people have a mixed or indeterminate type of defecation.

It is very important to pay attention to children sitting on the potty for 10-15 minutes. This is a sign that they have a two-moment bowel movement that can last a lifetime. Therefore, it is necessary to lift such children from the potty and teach them to defecate once in one sitting on the potty.

Gastrointestinal diseases are a large group of various diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract.

Classification of ailments

According to etiology, they are:

infectious;
non-infectious.

According to the localization of the disease of the gastrointestinal tract, the following organs can be affected:

esophagus;
stomach;
liver;
small intestine;
large intestine;
gallbladder;
bile ducts.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be hereditary and acquired.

Predisposing factors

The gastrointestinal tract becomes inflamed due to:

malnutrition;
irrational combination of products, unbalanced in carbohydrate, protein and fat composition;
violations of the diet (meals are plentiful and rare);
the use of fast foods, seasonings;
reducing the content of coarse fiber in products;
smoking, drinking alcohol or drugs;
taking medications;
contact with infectious patients;
non-compliance with personal hygiene and food preparation rules;
living in environmentally unfavorable conditions;
genetic predisposition to GI.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, symptoms

The main manifestations of such ailments are pain in the abdomen. The nature of pain sensations varies in intensity and localization. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be accompanied by heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, rumbling in the abdomen, the appearance of plaque on the tongue, increased gas formation, bad breath, and aversion to any products.

Infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract usually begin acutely. Their symptoms are more pronounced, sometimes the patient's temperature rises.

Any disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract negatively affect the state of the body: the metabolism worsens, the skin is affected, and immunity decreases.

It is possible to assess the degree of damage to the gastrointestinal tract if a thorough diagnostic examination is carried out. Examination by a gastroenterologist, laboratory and instrumental x-rays, endoscopy) will make it possible to make an accurate diagnosis and carry out adequate therapeutic measures.

A short list of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

The tract includes:

gastroesophageal disease;
gastritis of various origins;
duodenal ulcer;
constipation and diarrhea;
as a result of dysbacteriosis;
pancreatitis;
gallbladder disease;
hepatitis;
colitis;
cirrhosis of the liver and many others.

Prevention of gastrointestinal diseases

Gastrointestinal disorders are sometimes chronic. In order to quickly cope with exacerbations of the disease, you should make adjustments to your eating habits. Gastrointestinal diseases often lead to constipation, so it is important to organize timely bowel movements. It is necessary to accustom yourself to do this at the same time, preferably in the morning, in a calm home environment. On an empty stomach, you should take a glass of unboiled water, be sure to do exercises and have breakfast. It is recommended to take measures to strengthen the immune system, to perform hardening procedures - this significantly reduces the likelihood of contracting bacterial and viral infections. It is necessary to add preparations containing lacto- and bifidobacteria, as well as vitamins, to the diet in order to increase resistance to diseases.