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

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Etymology

Origin of digestive system

First recorded in 1950–55

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

digestive system

Beyond the reduction in arthritis pain, the researchers are particularly interested in what the findings reveal about interactions between the digestive system, muscles, and nervous system.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026

Importantly, the compound showed little activity against the beneficial microorganisms that help maintain a healthy digestive system.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

Inside the digestive system, bacteria coexist in large, interconnected communities.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

It also depends on trillions of microorganisms living inside your digestive system.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 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

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