digestive system

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.

digestive system

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

digestive system

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of digestive system¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

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

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It seems everyone's talking about looking after their microbiome - the trillions of tiny organisms living in our digestive system – which influence everything from digestion and immunity to mood and sleep.

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The human digestive system relies on two main kinds of macrophages, a type of specialized white blood cell, to maintain intestinal health.

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People generally don’t eat enough fiber, which can trigger inflammation, and researchers are investigating the connection between our digestive systems and rising cancer rates.

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The idea is that the material would slip through the digestive system and then simply slide out.

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