The Digestive System
Functions
The Digestive System is a group of organs that break down the food we eat into nutrients like glucose, protein, vitamins, fats, carbs, and minerals that your body needs and uses for growth, repair, and energy. It also disposes of the waste from the parts of food we don't need.
The Main Parts
The Digestive System consists of mainly organs like the pancreas, gall bladder, mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, small intestines, and large intestines that all have a role in breaking down food and disposing of wastes.
Working With Other Body Systems
Our body systems work together with others of different functions to keep our body healthy and correctly functioning. Two of the many body systems that the Digestive System works with are the Circulatory and Nervous Systems. The Digestive System works with the Circulatory by providing the nutrients that the blood delivers to the cells to keep them healthy. The Nervous System works with the Digestive by telling you when you need to eat and controlling your mouth so you can eat through the nerves.
Medical Conditions
One of the most widely known diseases of the Digestive System is colon cancer. This is a slow-growing cancer that can be survived if caught early with a colonoscopy.
Other medical conditions of the Digestive System include lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, , diverticulitis, GERD, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and peptic ulcers.
Many of the diseases of the Digestive System have a relation to the foods we eat, and many sufferers have to restrict their diets.
Other medical conditions of the Digestive System include lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, , diverticulitis, GERD, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and peptic ulcers.
Many of the diseases of the Digestive System have a relation to the foods we eat, and many sufferers have to restrict their diets.
Fun Facts
Gravity isn't the cause of food traveling down to your stomach. It's actually your muscles that are the cause. Because of this, we can eat just as efficiently upside down.
Not all animals have a stomach. Some animals, like seahorses and platypi, are born without them.
The average human male eats and digests about 50 tons of food in his lifetime.
Not all animals have a stomach. Some animals, like seahorses and platypi, are born without them.
The average human male eats and digests about 50 tons of food in his lifetime.