Page 38 - Miracles in Our Bodies

so as to be usable. The foods that we eat are raw materials in

the first stage and are then processed in the stomach so as to

be used by the body. Having been broken down in the stom-

ach and the intestines, foods become ready to be used as the

nourishment of the cells and are conveyed to relevant regions
of the body via blood vessels.

A single parent substance is processed in a petroleum

Salivary glands secrete saliva,
THE TOTAL
which starts the breakdown of
LENGTH OF THE starches. Food begins as complex
carbohydrates
DIGESTIVE
TRACT, START-
ING FROM THE
Carbohydrates are broken down
MOUTH TO THE into simple sugars.
INTESTINES, IS
10 METERS (30
FEET).
Insulin tells the liver to store
glucose as glycogen.
Glucose goes to the liver.
Glucagon tells the liver to change
glycogen into glucose.
The liver stores some glucose
as glycogen. When blood sugar is low, the
pancreas sends the hormone
glucagon to the liver.
When blood sugar is high, the
pancreas sends the hormone
insulin to the liver.
Some type of enzyme is se-
creted by the pancreas into the
beginning portion of the small
intestine.
In the beginning part of the
small intestine, this enzyme
cuts down carbohydrates into
simple sugars.
Glucose is absorbed into the
bloodstream.