Digestion and Important Functions Essay Example

Digestion and Important Functions Essay Example Digestion and Important Functions Essay Digestion and Important Functions Essay Anatomy   Physiology Digestion is the process by which food is broken down into smaller pieces so that the  body can use them to build and  nourish cells and to provide energy. Digestion involves the mixing of food, its movement through the  digestive tract (also known as the alimentary canal), and  the chemical breakdown of larger molecules into  smaller molecules. Every  piece of food we eat has to  be broken down into smaller nutrients that the body can absorb, which is why it takes hours to fully digest food. The digestive system is made up of the digestive tract. This consists of a long  tube of  organs that runs from the mouth to the anus and includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, together with the liver  , gall  bladder  , and  pancreas, which  produce important secretions for digestion that drain into the small intestine. The digestive tract in an adult is about 30  feet long. Mouth and Salivary Glands Digestion begins in  the mouth, where chemical and mechanical digestion occurs. Saliva or spit, produced  by the salivary glands (located under  the tongue and near the lower  Ã‚  jaw), is released into the mouth. Saliva begins to break down the food, moistening it and making it easier to  swallow. A digestive enzyme(called amylase) in the saliva begins to break  down the carbohydrates(starches and sugars). One of the most important functions of the mouth is  chewing. Chewing allows food to be mashed into a soft mass that is easier to swallow and digest later. Esophagus Once food is swallowed, it enters the esophagus, a muscular tube that is about10 inches long. The esophagus is located between the throat and the stomach. Muscular  wavelike contractions known as peristalsis push the food down through  the esophagus to the stomach. A muscular ring (called the cardiac sphincter) at the end of the esophagus allows food to enter the stomach, and, then, it  squeezes shut to prevent food and fluid from going back up the esophagus. Stomach a J-shaped organt hat lies between the esophagus and the small intestine in the upper  abdomen. The stomach has 3 main functions: to  store the swallowed food and liquid; to mix up the food,  liquid, and digestive juices produced by the stomach; and to slowly empty its contents into the  small intestine. Small Intestine Most digestion and absorption of food occurs in the small intestine. The small intestine is a narrow,  twisting tube that occupies most of  the lower abdomen between the stomach and the beginning of the large  intestine. It extends about 20 feet in length. The small intestine consists of 3 parts: the duodenum (the C-shaped part), the  jejunum  (the coiled midsection), and the ileum(the last section). The small  intestine has 2 important functions. First, the digestive process is completed here  by enzymes and other substances made by intestinal cells, the pancreas, and  the liver. Glands in the  intestine walls secrete enzymes that breakdown starches and sugars. The pancreas secretes enzymes into the  small intestine that help  breakdown carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The liver produces  bile, which is stored in the gallbladder. Bile helps to make fat molecules (which otherwise arenot soluble in water) soluble, so they can be absorbed by  the body. Second, the small intestine absorbs the nutrients from the digestive process. The inner wall of the small lintestine is covered by millions of  tiny fingerlike projections called villi. The villi are covered with even tinier projections called microvilli. The  combination of villi and microvilli increase the surface area of  the small intestine greatly, allowing absorption of  nutrients to occur. Undigested material travels next  to the large intestine. Large intestine forms an upside down U over  the coiled small intestine. It begins at the lower right-hand side of the body and ends  on the lower left-hand side. The large intestine is about 5-6 feet long. It  has 3 parts: the cecum, the colon, and the rectum. The cecum is a  pouch at the beginning of the  large intestine. This area allows food to pass from the small intestine to the large intestine. The colon is where fluids and salts are absorbed and extends from the cecum to the rectum. The  last part of the large intestine is the rectum, which is where feces(waste material) is stored before leaving the body through the anus. The main  job of the large intestine is to  remove water and salts (electrolytes) from the undigested material and to form solid waste that can be excreted. Bacteria in the large intestine help to  break down the  undigested materials. The remaining contents of the  large intestine are moved toward the rectum, where feces are stored until they leave the body through the anus as a  bowel movement.

How to Apply for Federal Student Aid Using the FASFA

How to Apply for Federal Student Aid Using the FASFA You want to go to college so you can make a lot of money but you dont have a lot of money, so you cant go to college. Congratulations! You have just met the main requirements for getting federal student aid. The U.S. Department of Education provides more than $67 billion in loans, grants and campus-based aid every year to assist millions of students and their families pay for postsecondary education. This feature presents an overview of the types of federal student financial aid available, eligibility requirements and the application process. Handy links directly to detailed information from the Department of Education are provided throughout. Federal Student Loan Programs The governments Stafford Loan program offers both subsidized and unsubsidized student loans.   Subsidized loans require proof of financial need. All interest on subsidized loans is paid by the government while the student is actually enrolled at least half-time and during certain periods, such as  deferment and forbearance. Unsubsidized loans are available regardless of financial need. The student must pay all interest on unsubsidized loans. The Direct PLUS program offers unsubsidized loans to parents of dependent students. The parents must pay all interest on Direct PLUS loans. Amounts that can be borrowed, repayment options and interest rates vary greatly and can be modified during the term of the loan. For details on federal student loan programs, see: Federal Direct Student Loans - Information For Students (Note: Some teachers and childcare providers may be able to cancel payment of portions of their federal student loans. See: Loan Cancellation for Teachers and Cancellation for Childcare Providers.) Federal Pell Grants Unlike loans, federal Pell Grants do not have to be paid back. Eligibility is based on financial need. Maximum amounts available vary yearly as determined by Congress. Besides financial need, the amount of a Pell grant also depends on costs to attend school, the students status as a full- or part-time student, and the students plans to attend school for a full academic year or less. Pell grant funds are paid directly to the student by the school at least once each semester, trimester, or quarter. Campus-Based Aid Programs Campus-based programs like the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), and Federal Perkins Loan programs are administered directly by the financial aid office at each participating school. Federal funds for these programs are given to the schools and distributed to students at the schools discretion. Amounts students can receive depends on individual financial need, amounts of other aid the student receives and the total availability of funds at the school. Basic Eligibility Requirements for Student Aid Eligibility for federal student aid is determined on the basis of financial need and on several other factors. The financial aid administrator at the college or career school you plan to attend will determine your eligibility. Basically, to receive aid from federal programs, you must: qualify for financial need (except for certain loans); have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or pass a test approved by the U.S. Department of Education; be working toward a degree or certificate; be enrolled in an eligible program; be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; have a valid Social Security Number; register with the Selective Service if required; and maintain satisfactory academic progress once in school. Under federal law, persons who have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs are not eligible for federal student aid. If you have a conviction or convictions for these offenses, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) to find out if, or how, this law applies to you. Even if you are ineligible for federal aid, the Education Department urges you to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, because you may be eligible for nonfederal aid from states and private institutions. How to Apply for Student Aid - The FASFA The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be used to apply for all loans, grants, and campus-based student aid programs. The FASFA can be completed online or on paper. The FAFSA Web site takes you through every step of the process and provides all the information you need to apply for federal student aid. Applicants can access worksheets to estimate their incomes, electronically sign loan documents, save an application at any computer and print a complete report. How easy is the FAFSA online application process? In 2000, over 4 million student loan applications were processed online, a number the Department of Education expects to top 6 million during 2002. Between Jan. 1 and March 1, 2002, over 500,000 applications had already been processed online. Questions? If you have any questions, or require additional information on student financial assistance, you may contact your high school guidance counselor, the financial aid officer at the postsecondary school you plan to attend, or the Federal Student Aid Information Center, open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to midnight (Eastern Time). You can also find free information about federal, state, institutional, and private student aid in your high school counselors office or local librarys reference section (usually listed under student aid or financial aid.)