Question

How would digestion be affected if the pancreas or liver would be damaged?

Answer 1

The digestion is the process by which food substances are broken down into simpler forms. This helps in absorption of minerals present in food by the body. Digestion is preceded by different enzymes and juices produced by different body organs.

Complete answer:
-Digestive system is formed from the alimentary canal which includes mouth, stomach, oesophagus, small intestine and large intestine that contains the rectum and anus alongside accessory organs like the liver, pancreas and gallbladder.
-As the food enters the mouth it undergoes mechanical digestion by chewing. Saliva contains salivary amylase which helps in the digestion of starch in the food. After starch digestion it travels down from the oesophagus and goes to the stomach where gastric juices initiate protein digestion which contains pepsin and hydrochloric acid. After some time a thick liquid called chyme is produced when it enters the duodenum where it mixes with digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile juice from liver and then passes through the small intestine. After the chime is completely digested it is absorbed into the blood.
-Pancreas is a mixed organ which is found in the back of the stomach. It is one of the most crucial organs of the digestive system as it releases pancreatic juice into the duodenum via pancreatic ducts. The pancreatic juice is composed of enzymes.

The functions of the enzymes of pancreatic juice are:
Lipase which helps in fat particles breakdown
-Protease breaks the proteins. The two proteases in pancreatic juice are Trypsin and Chymotrypsin.
-Chymotrypsin is an inactive enzyme which is activated by enzyme trypsin. Chymotrypsin helps in the breakdown of partially hydrolysed proteins into peptides when activated.
-Amylase helps in the breakdown of fat particles.
-Once the partially digested food from stomach is passed to duodenum the walls of the duodenum releases hormones like secretin and cholecystokinin into the bloodstream.
-These hormones help in the secretion of juice in the duodenum. The alkaline nature of pancreas helps to neutralize the acidic chyme and makes the medium suitable for enzymatic activity.
-If the cells of the pancreas do not work properly it can lead to indigestion and diarrhoea. Digestion would not be processed if these hormones and juices do not work properly leading to high chances of indigestion.
-Liver is the largest gland in the human body which is found in the upper right corner of the body. Liver performs the filtration of blood which comes out of the digestive tract. The liver secretes bile which is a very crucial aspect for fat metabolism.
-Liver is an important organ which helps in digestion as the liver makes bile juice which helps in digestion process and also carry out the waste materials. Liver stores the glucose and releases it as per the requirement of the body through glycogenolysis which breaks glycogen to form glucose. The liver also helps to clear bilirubin.
-The liver makes cholesterol and protein for fat in the body. Whenever the liver is affected the digestion is inappropriate as bile juice is not secreted and the body cannot digest and absorb food.

Note: The pancreas is a mixed gland as it has exocrine and endocrine functions. The endocrine secretion of pancreas are hormones like insulin and glucagon whereas exocrine secretes pancreatic juice that helps to bring the digestion process. Any complications can stop the pancreas functioning.
The complications in the liver can lead to incomplete production of bile leading to no breakage of fat in the small intestine.