ACCESSORY PARTS TO THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

1. Teeth: Digestion begins in the mouth with the mechanical breakdown of food by teeth, of which there are four types.

An animal’s assortment of teeth is an example of anatomical variation, especially in mammals. The dental formula shows the arrangement of teeth in a full mouth of an animal, for each side of the mouth. The letters I, C, P and M stand for incisors, canines, pre-molars and molars, respectively: 2. The Liver: The liver plays an important role in digestion by producing bile, which aids in fat digestion. Bile is stored in the gall bladder and is released when food is eaten. In addition to its role in digestion, the liver has many other functions:

Breakdown of toxins such as hydrogen peroxide by the enzyme catalase.

Storage of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and minerals such as iron and potassium.

Deamination of proteins through the removal of the amino group in the amino acid and its subsequent conversion to ammonia.

Storage of excess glucose in the form of glycogen.

Regulation of body temperature through various metabolic reactions distributing heat throughout the body.

3. Pancreas:

The pancreas secretes a juice called pancreatic juice into the duodenum. This juice contains enzymes which help breakdown food molecules eg lipase breaks down fats to fatty acids and glycerol.