digestive system

American  

noun

1. the system by which ingested food is acted upon by physical and chemical means to provide the body with absorbable nutrients and to excrete waste products; in mammals the system includes the alimentary canal extending from the mouth to the anus, and the hormones and enzymes assisting in digestion.

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digestive system Scientific  

/ dī-jĕs′tĭv /

1. The alimentary canal together with the salivary glands, liver, pancreas, and other organs of digestion.

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digestive system Cultural  

1. The organs and glands in the body that are responsible for digestion. The digestive system begins with the mouth and extends through the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, ending with the rectum and anus. Other organs in this system include the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and appendix.

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Etymology

Origin of digestive system

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Researchers have discovered a way to coax the bacteria living in animals' digestive systems into acting like miniature factories that produce compounds linked to longer life.

From Science Daily

Bowel habits may not be a popular topic, but they offer valuable insight into how efficiently the gut moves material through the digestive system.

From Science Daily

To help address this, Traverso's lab has previously explored drug delivery capsules that stay in the digestive system for extended periods, releasing medication at scheduled intervals.

From Science Daily

The researchers say it is likely that gut bacteria are frequently exposed to many of the chemicals tested, but the exact amounts that reach the digestive system remain unclear.

From Science Daily

This suggests that the way animals coat their gut mucus with sugars may help determine which microbes thrive in the digestive system, potentially representing a shared mechanism across species.

From Science Daily