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

A molecule made by bacteria in the digestive system may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and accelerate cognitive decline in people with dementia, according to new research.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 3, 2026

"This fossil is the oldest known example of a largely complete digestive system in a reptile."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 29, 2026

Scientists at APC Microbiome Ireland, a research center at University College Cork, investigated in detail how coffee may influence communication between the digestive system and the brain.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026

HSD can also cause gastrointestinal symptoms because the connective tissue within the digestive system is stretchier.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Years of drinking contaminated water had left Mawien Dut’s entire digestive system riddled with guinea worms.

From "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park