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

“My immune system and digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple of three years,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

For the first time, scientists have closely examined how coffee interacts with the gut-brain axis, the communication network that links the digestive system and the brain.

From Science Daily • May 3, 2026

“It’s about seeing the digestive system as one of the performance factors,” says EF Pro Cycling’s Carceller.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 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

Most such animals have a digestive system of extraordinary complexity, including a stomach divided into four chambers.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson