What is the digestive system?
Your digestive system is made up of the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract and your liver, pancreas
and gallbladder. The GI tract is a series of hollow
organs that are connected to each other from
your mouth to your anus. The organs that make
up your GI tract, in the order that they are
connected, include your mouth, esophagus,
stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus.
What does the digestive system
do?
Your digestive system is uniquely constructed to do
its job of turning your food into the nutrients and
energy you need to survive. And when it’s done
with that, it handily packages your solid waste, or
stool, for disposal when you have a bowel
movement.
Why is digestion important?
Digestion is important because your body needs
nutrients from the food you eat and the liquids
you drink in order to stay healthy and function
properly. Nutrients include carbohydrates,
proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Your
digestive system breaks down and absorbs
nutrients from the food and liquids you consume
to use for important things like energy, growth
and repairing cells.
ANATOMY
What organs make up the digestive system?
The main organs that make up the digestive
system (in order of their function) are the mouth,
esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large
intestine, rectum and anus. Helping them along
the way are the pancreas, gall bladder and liver.
Here’s how these organs work together in your
digestive system.
Image of the digestive system
Mouth
The mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract.
In fact, digestion starts before you even take a
bite. Your salivary glands get active as you see and
smell that pasta dish or warm bread. After you
start eating, you chew your food into pieces that
are more easily digested. Your saliva mixes with
the food to begin to break it down into a form
your body can absorb and use. When you swallow,
your tongue passes the food into your throat and
into your esophagus.
Esophagus
Located in your throat near your trachea
(windpipe), the esophagus receives food from your
mouth when you swallow. The epiglottis is a small
flap that folds over your windpipe as you swallow
to prevent you from choking (when food goes into
your windpipe). A series of muscular contractions
within the esophagus called peristalsis delivers food
to your stomach.
But first a ring-like muscle at the bottom of your
esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter
has to relax to let the food in. The sphincter then
contracts and prevents the contents of the
stomach from flowing back into the esophagus.
(When it doesn’t and these contents flow back into
the esophagus, you may experience acid reflux or
heartburn.)
Stomach
The stomach is a hollow organ, or "container,"
that holds food while it is being mixed with
stomach enzymes. These enzymes continue the
process of breaking down food into a usable form.
Cells in the lining of your stomach secrete a strong
acid and powerful enzymes that are responsible
for the breakdown process. When the contents of
the stomach are processed enough, they’re
released into the small intestine.
Small intestine
Made up of three segments — the duodenum,
jejunum, and ileum — the small intestine is a 22-
foot long muscular tube that breaks down food
using enzymes released by the pancreas and bile
from the liver. Peristalsis also works in this organ,
moving food through and mixing it with digestive
juices from the pancreas and liver.
The duodenum is the first segment of the small
intestine. It’s largely responsible for the continuous
breaking-down process. The jejunum and ileum
lower in the intestine are mainly responsible for
the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.
Contents of the small intestine start out semi-solid
and end in a liquid form after passing through the
organ. Water, bile, enzymes and mucus contribute
to the change in consistency. Once the nutrients
have been absorbed and the leftover-food residue
liquid has passed through the small intestine, it
then moves on to the large intestine, or colon.
Pancreas
The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the
duodenum that break down protein, fats and
carbohydrates. The pancreas also makes insulin,
passing it directly into the bloodstream. Insulin is
the chief hormone in your body for metabolizing
sugar.
Liver
The liver has many functions, but its main job
within the digestive system is to process the
nutrients absorbed from the small intestine. Bile
from the liver secreted into the small intestine also
plays an important role in digesting fat and some
vitamins.
The liver is your body's chemical "factory." It takes
the raw materials absorbed by the intestine and
makes all the various chemicals your body needs to
function.
The liver also detoxifies potentially harmful
chemicals. It breaks down and secretes many
drugs that can be toxic to your body.
Gallbladder
The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile from
the liver, and then releases it into the duodenum
in the small intestine to help absorb and digest
fats.
Colon (Large Intestine)
The large intestine, or colon, is responsible for
processing waste so that emptying the bowels is
easy and convenient. It’s a 6-foot long muscular
tube that connects the small intestine to the
rectum.
The large intestine is made up of the cecum, the
ascending (right) colon, the transverse (across)
colon, the descending (left) colon, and the sigmoid
colon, which connects to the rectum.
Stool, or waste left over from the digestive
process, is passed through the colon by means of
peristalsis, first in a liquid state and ultimately in
a solid form. As stool passes through the colon,
water is removed. Stool is stored in the sigmoid
(S-shaped) colon until a "mass movement" empties
it into the rectum once or twice a day.
It normally takes about 36 hours for stool to get
through the colon. The stool itself is mostly food
debris and bacteria. These “good” bacteria
perform several useful functions, such as
synthesizing various vitamins, processing waste
products and food particles and protecting against
harmful bacteria. When the descending colon
becomes full of stool, or feces, it empties its
contents into the rectum to begin the process of
elimination (a bowel movement).
Rectum
The rectum is a straight, 8-inch chamber that
connects the colon to the anus. The rectum's job is
to receive stool from the colon, let you know that
there is stool to be evacuated (pooped out) and to
hold the stool until evacuation happens. When
anything (gas or stool) comes into the rectum,
sensors send a message to the brain. The brain
then decides if the rectal contents can be released
or not.
If they can, the sphincters relax and the rectum
contracts, disposing its contents. If the contents
cannot be disposed, the sphincter contracts and
the rectum accommodates so that the sensation
temporarily goes away.
Anus
The anus is the last part of the digestive tract. It is
a 2-inch long canal consisting of the pelvic floor
muscles and the two anal sphincters (internal and
external). The lining of the upper anus is able to
detect rectal contents. It lets you know whether
the contents are liquid, gas or solid.
The anus is surrounded by sphincter muscles that
are important in allowing control of stool. The
pelvic floor muscle creates an angle between the
rectum and the anus that stops stool from coming
out when it’s not supposed to. The internal
sphincter is always tight, except when stool enters
the rectum. This keeps us continent (prevents us
from pooping involuntarily) when we are asleep or
otherwise unaware of the presence of stool.
When we get an urge to go to the bathroom, we
rely on our external sphincter to hold the stool
until reaching a toilet, where it then relaxes to
release the contents.
CONDITIONS AND DISORDERS
What are some common conditions that affect the
digestive system?
There are temporary conditions and long-term, or
chronic, diseases and disorders that affect the
digestive system. It’s common to have conditions
such as constipation, diarrhea or heartburn from
time to time. If you are experiencing digestive
issues like these frequently, be sure to contact your
healthcare professional. It could be a sign of a
more serious disorder that needs medical
attention and treatment.
Short-term or temporary conditions that affect
the digestive system include:
Constipation: Constipation generally happens when
you go poop (have a bowel movement) less
frequently than you normally do. When you’re
constipated, your poop is often dry and hard and
it’s difficult and painful for your poop to pass.
Diarrhea: Diarrhea is when you have loose or
watery poop. Diarrhea can be caused by many
things, including bacteria, but sometimes the cause
is unknown.
Heartburn: Although it has “heart” in its name,
heartburn is actually a digestive issue. Heartburn
is an uncomfortable burning feeling in your chest
that can move up your neck and throat. It
happens when acidic digestive juices from your
stomach go back up your esophagus.
Hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids are swollen, enlarged
veins that form inside and outside of your anus
and rectum. They can be painful, uncomfortable
and cause rectal bleeding.
Stomach flu (gastroenteritis): The stomach flu is
an infection of the stomach and upper part of the
small intestine usually caused by a virus. It usually
lasts less than a week. Millions of people get the
stomach flu every year.
Ulcers: An ulcer is a sore that develops on the
lining of the esophagus, stomach or small intestine.
The most common causes of ulcers are infection
with a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H.
pylori) and long-term use of anti-inflammatory
drugs such as ibuprofen.
Gallstones: Gallstones are small pieces of solid
material formed from digestive fluid that form in
your gallbladder, a small organ under your liver.
Common digestive system diseases (gastrointestinal
diseases) and disorders include:
GERD (chronic acid reflux): GERD
(gastroesophageal reflux disease, or chronic acid
reflux) is a condition in which acid-containing
contents in your stomach frequently leak back up
into your esophagus.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): IBS is a condition
in which your colon muscle contracts more or less
often than normal. People with IBS experience
excessive gas, abdominal pain and cramps.
Lactose intolerance: People with lactose
intolerance are unable to digest lactose, the sugar
primarily found in milk and dairy products.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis: Diverticulosis and
diverticulitis are two conditions that occur in your
large intestine (also called your colon). Both share
the common feature of diverticula, which are
pockets or bulges that form in the wall of your
colon.
Cancer: Cancers that affect tissues and organs in
the digestive system are called gastrointestinal (GI)
cancers. There are multiple kinds of GI cancers.
The most common digestive system cancers
include esophageal cancer, gastric (stomach)
cancer, colon and rectal (colorectal) cancer,
pancreatic cancer and liver cancer.
Crohn’s disease: Crohn’s disease is a lifelong form
of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The condition
irritates the digestive tract.
Celiac disease: Celiac disease is an autoimmune
disorder that can damage your small intestine.
The damage happens when a person with celiac
disease consumes gluten, a protein found in wheat,
barley and rye.
CARE
How can I keep my digestive system healthy?
If you have a medical condition, always ask your
healthcare provider what you should do and eat to
stay healthy and manage your condition. In
general, the following are ways to keep your
digestive system healthy:
Drink water often: Water helps the food you eat
flow more easily through your digestive system.
Low amounts of water in your body (dehydration)
is a common cause of constipation.
Include fiber in your diet: Fiber is beneficial to
digestion and helps your body have regular bowel
movements. Be sure to incorporate both soluble
and insoluble fiber into your diet.
Eat a balanced diet: Be sure to eat several servings
of fruit and vegetables every day. Choose whole
grains over processed grains and try to avoid
processed foods in general. Choose poultry and fish
more often than red meat and limit all deli
(processed) meats. Limit the amount of sugar you
consume.
Eat foods with probiotics or take probiotic
supplements: Probiotics are good bacteria that
help fight off the bad bacteria in your gut. They
also make healthy substances that nourish your
gut. It can be especially helpful to consume
probiotics after you have taken an antibiotic
because antibiotics often kill both bad and good
bacteria in your gut.
Eat mindfully and chew your food: Eating slowly
gives your body time to digest your food properly.
It also allows your body to send you cues that it is
full. It is important to chew your food thoroughly
because it helps to ensure your body has enough
saliva (spit) for digestion. Chewing your food fully
also makes it easier for your digestive system to
absorb the nutrients in the food.
Exercise: Physical activity and gravity help move
food through your digestive system. Taking a walk,
for example, after you eat a meal can help your
body digest the food more easily.
Avoid alcohol and smoking: Alcohol can increase
the amount of acid in your stomach and can cause
heartburn, acid reflux and stomach ulcers.
Smoking almost doubles your risk of having acid
reflux. Research has shown that people who have
digestive issues that quit smoking have improved
symptoms.
Manage your stress: Stress is associated with
digestive issues such as constipation, diarrhea and
IBS.
When should I contact my healthcare provider
about digestive system issues?
Contact your healthcare provider if you are
experiencing frequent symptoms such as
constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain or
cramps, excessive gas (farting), or heartburn.
While most people experience these conditions
every once in a while, if you experience them
often, it could be a sign of a more serious digestive
system issue.
