Digestive system

The digestive system is an organ-system comprising the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs such as salivary glands, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. Its primary functions include mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into absorbable nutrients through coordinated actions involving secretion of enzymes/hormones and muscular contractions. The process begins in the mouth with enzymatic digestion by amylase; continues in the stomach with acid-mediated protein breakdown; proceeds through small intestine absorption aided by pancreatic/liver secretions; and concludes with water reabsorption in the large intestine. The structure includes specialized cells like enterocytes for nutrient uptake and parietal/chief cells for gastric secretions. Diseases affecting this complex can range from infections to cancers classified under "digestive system tumors." However, "digestive system" itself is not a molecule or receptor but an anatomical/physiological entity composed of many potential therapeutic targets at cellular/molecular levels.[1][2][5] The human digestive system consists of the gastrointestinal tract plus accessory organs... Most food digestion takes place in the small intestine... There are also digestive cells called enterocytes lining intestines...[1]

Other names

Gastrointestinal systemGI tractAlimentary canalHuman digestive system