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

Certain microbes living in the digestive system can send proteins straight into human cells, actively influencing how the immune system behaves.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2026

Enzymes in the digestive system break down insulin before it can work, and the intestine lacks a natural way to absorb it into the bloodstream.

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

As well as posing a choking hazard, pieces of plastic can cause damage to the digestive system if ingested.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

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 • Jan. 13, 2026

It doesn’t agree with his digestive system very well, though.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper