digestive tract

American  

[dahy-jes-tiv trakt, di-jes-tiv] / daɪˈdʒɛs tɪv ˌtrækt, dɪˈdʒɛs tɪv /

noun

digestive tracts plural

1. all the parts or organs of the body through which food passes during digestion, from the point where food is taken in to the point where waste is eliminated.

---

digestive tract Scientific  

1. The series of organs in the digestive system through which food passes, nutrients are absorbed, and waste is eliminated. In higher vertebrates, it consists of the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum, and anus.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• digestive-tract
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• digestive tracts
  plural

Example Sentences

The trillions of microbes that live in the human digestive tract, collectively known as the gut microbiome, may influence mood, behavior, and mental health through a variety of biological pathways.

From Science Daily • Jun. 17, 2026

"The consumed soil acts as a barrier in the digestive tract, limiting absorption of harmful compounds."

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

“Inadequate nutrition, particularly vitamin A deficiency, can impair the lining of the digestive tract, predisposing birds to inflammation and secondary illness.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

Allen had a test run on her infant’s gut microbiome—the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms that inhabit the digestive tract.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

If swallowed, it is absorbed slowly through the digestive tract; it may also be absorbed through the lungs.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson