digestive system

American  

noun

• digestive systems
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• digestive systems
  plural

Etymology

Origin of digestive system

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

digestive system

The gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria that live in the digestive system and affect many aspects of health, including the way the body experiences pain.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026

When Howard was seven years old, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, the genetic condition that causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Because bile acids enter the bloodstream, they can affect tissues and organs far beyond the digestive system.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 9, 2026

Gastrointestinal failure means Rupert's digestive system does not function as it should, while haemophilia A is a condition which affects how his blood clots.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

I can see its worm heart, which isn’t the shape of a heart, its central artery pumping worm blood, its digestive system, which is full of mud.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood