The Journey of a Cupcake
The
Digestive
System
The Journey Begins
 Little Debby’s
journey starts in
the mouth. She
gets chewed up
by the teeth,
and this is the
first stage in
digestion.
Little Debby Gets
Swallowed
 After she
gets
chewed
up, she is
swallowed.
From the
mouth,
she goes
down the
esophagus
to the
stomach.
Traveling Down the
Esophagus
 No digestion takes
place in the
esophagus.
 It’s wrapped in
sheets of smooth
muscle.
 Food pushed
down by a series
of contractions
called peristalsis.
Entering the Stomach
 Proteins start being
dismantled in the
stomach.
 Juices enter from
valves in the stomach
wall.
 A valve called the
sphincter prevents
food from going back
up the esophagus.
More Info About the
Stomach
 The stomach stores and
breaks down food.
 The stomach chemically &
mechanically breaks down
proteins.
 Gastric juice called HCL is
secreted by the stomach’s
lining, which has a thick
layer of mucus coting it,
which prevents it from
digesting itself.
Little Debbie Reaches the
Small Intestine
 Digestion and
absorption occur in
the small intestine.
 Here, it uses enzymes
produced by the
pancreas.
 They enter the small
intestine through the
pancreatic duct
 ( Pancreas )
Let’s Not Forget the Liver
 The liver is the size of
a football. It performs
metabolic functions. It
supplies quick energy
by releasing sugars and
makes proteins. The
liver also stores
vitamins and minerals,
and produces bile salts.
It also regulates blood
clotting, monitors
cholesterol, and
detoxifies alcohol.
The Gallbladder
 The gallbladder is an
active storage shed.
 It absorbs minerals,
salt and water
received from the
liver and converts
them into bile.
 The bile is released
when food is in the
stomach. Bile
emulsifies fat so it
can be digested.
http://www.brainpop.com/health/dige
stive/digestion/index.weml
Little Debbie Explores
the Small Intestine
 The first part of the
small intestine is called
the duodenum.
 The complete digestion
of carbohydrates, fats
and proteins occurs here.
 The rest of the small
intestine absorbs water.
 The inner lining is
covered with finger like
projections called villi,
which increase surface
area of the small
intestine.
Little Debbie Makes it to
the Large Intestine
 Solids are
compacted in
the large
intestine. The
large intestine is
much shorter
than the small
intestine.Fluid
and sodium are
absorbed
through the
walls -- the main
job is to act like
a trash
compacter.
Little Debbie’s Journey is
Almost Over
 After Little Debbie
leaves the large
intestine, she remains
in the rectum, which
is an extensive
chamber of the large
intestine. Finally she
leaves through the
anus.

Rectum 
THE END OF HER
JOURNEY
Even though her journey
through the digestive system is
over, Little Debbie will
continue to travel…