PHYSIOLOGY OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT (GIT) Main function: The GIT
provides the body with a supply of water, nutrients, electrolytes, vitamines. Actions: 1) Digestion
of the food 2) Absorption of the products of digestion Ad 1) Digestive processes: - mechanical -
chemical Mechanical methods: - mastication (chewing) - swallowing (deglutition) - movements
of the GIT (motor functions) Chemical means (secretions): - saliva - gastric juice - pancreatic
juice - intestinal juice - bile PHYSIOLOGY OF MOUTH Functions: 1/ Mechanical and

Functions of the muscular system 1. Locomotion  2. Vasoconstriction and vasodilatation-
constriction and dilation of blood vessel Walls are the results of smooth muscle contraction.
 3. Peristalsis – wavelike motion along the digestive tract is produced by the Smooth
muscle.  4. Cardiac motion  5. Posture maintenance- contraction of skeletal muscles
maintains body posture and muscle tone.  6. Heat generation – about 75% of ATP energy
used in muscle contraction is released as heat.  Copyright © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.,

Neurophysiology is the branch of physiology dealing with the functions of the nervous
system. ie The study of the functional properties of  neurone s,  glia , and networks.