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

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

The other was the vagus nerve, a key communication route between the brain and internal organs such as the lungs and digestive system.

From Science Daily

It can involve the brain, heart, lungs and digestive system.

From Science Daily

Instead, the main agents of colonization appear to be gulls, geese, and shorebirds, which carried seeds in their digestive systems or droppings.

From Science Daily