Study the illustration above. The digestive system works to ingest, digest, and absorb food that we eat so it can be metabolized and used for energy throughout our body. The process of digestion requires other body systems to help with the entire process. Which description of a canoe running through a river is most like the digestive system working together with the one of the other body systems?
Answers
Answer:
The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal tract—also called the GI tract or digestive tract—and the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus. The hollow organs that make up the GI tract are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. The liver, pancreas, and gallbladder are the solid organs of the digestive system.
The small intestine has three parts. The first part is called the duodenum. The jejunum is in the middle and the ileum is at the end. The large intestine includes the appendix, cecum, colon, and rectum. The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch attached to the cecum. The cecum is the first part of the large intestine. The colon is next. The rectum is the end of the large intestine.
View full-sized imageHuman model showing the digestive system, which includes the mouth, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, large and small intestines, appendix, rectum, and anus.
The digestive system
Bacteria in your GI tract, also called gut flora or microbiome, help with digestion. Parts of your nervous and circulatory NIH external link systems also help. Working together, nerves, hormones, bacteria, blood, and the organs of your digestive system digest the foods and liquids you eat or drink each day.
Why is digestion important?
Digestion is important because your body needs nutrients from food and drink to work properly and stay healthy. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins NIH external link, minerals NIH external link, and water are nutrients. Your digestive system breaks nutrients into parts small enough for your body to absorb and use for energy, growth, and cell repair.
Proteins break into amino acids
Fats break into fatty acids and glycerol
Carbohydrates break into simple sugars
MyPlate offers ideas and tips to help you meet your individual health needs External link.
Girl eating a tomato with yellow peppers, broccoli, carrots, and pasta. Photo also shows a glass of water.
Your digestive system breaks nutrients into parts that are small enough for your body to absorb.
How does my digestive system work?
Each part of your digestive system helps to move food and liquid through your GI tract, break food and liquid into smaller parts, or both. Once foods are broken into small enough parts, your body can absorb and move the nutrients to where they are needed. Your large intestine absorbs water, and the waste products of digestion become stool. Nerves and hormones help control the