Digestive system (2024)

Key facts

  • The digestive system breaks down food and absorbs nutrients for energy and growth.
  • It is a long tube starting from your mouth, going all the way to your anus.
  • Common digestive health conditions are gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), diverticulitis, stomach ulcers, and haemorrhoids.

What is the digestive system?

The digestive system is made up of the digestive tract (the gut) and other organs like the liver, pancreas and gall bladder. It is where your body breaks down food and absorbs nutrients. The digestive system is a long, twisting tube that starts at the mouth and goes through the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and ends at the anus.

The digestive system breaks down food into simple nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats and proteins. These can then be absorbed into your blood, so your body can use them for energy, growth and repair. Anything that isn't used is waste, and leaves the body as faeces (poo).

How does my digestive system work?

Each organ of your digestive system has an important role in digestion.

Mouth

When you eat, your teeth chew food into small pieces. Glands in your cheeks and under your tongue make saliva that coats the food. This makes it easier to chew and swallow. Saliva also contains enzymes that start to digest the carbohydrates in food.

Oesophagus

Your oesophagus is a tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach, after it is swallowed. A ring of muscle at the end of the oesophagus lets food into your stomach and stops stomach contents from going back up to the oesophagus.

Stomach

Your stomach breaks down food with liquid (gastric acids) to help with digestion and absorption of vitamins and minerals.

Small intestine

The small intestine of an adult is around 5 metres long and made up of many bends and folds. The large surface area helps proteins, fatty acids, sugars, vitamins and minerals pass through its wall into the blood. Most of the chemical digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, happens in the small intestine.

Large intestine, rectum and anus

Your large intestine absorbs water, minerals and vitamins. Undigested fibre is mixed with mucus and bacteria, which breaks down some of the fibre to keep the large intestine healthy. Solid bowel motions (faeces, or poo) are formed and stay in the last part of the large intestine (the rectum) before leaving the body through the anus as a bowel movement.

Digestive system (1)

What are common health conditions of the digestive system?

Gastro-oesophageal reflux

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is when stomach content moves from the stomach back up the oesophagus. Because it is acidic, it causes a burning sensation in the chest or throat.

Diverticulitis and diverticulosis

Diverticulosis is the formation of abnormal pouches in the lower part of the large intestine, and diverticulitis is when these pouches become inflamed or infected. Diverticulosis is common from the age of 40 years and above. Around one in every 2 people over the age of 70 years have the condition.

Stomach ulcers

Stomach ulcers or peptic ulcers can be found in the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterium causes most stomach ulcers.

Haemorrhoids

Haemorrhoids are itchy or painful lumps of swollen veins in and around the anus. Haemorrhoids can cause bleeding and pain. You might notice bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet. Haemorrhoids are diagnosed by a doctor examining the anus and anal canal.

When should I see my doctor?

You should speak to your doctor if you have any concerns, pain of discomfort with your digestion. See your doctor immediately if you:

  • have chest pain
  • continue to vomit or are vomiting blood
  • symptoms stop you from eating, drinking or sleeping
  • are losing weight without trying

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

How do I prevent digestive system problems?

You can help prevent digestive system problems by leading a healthy lifestyle. This might include the following:

Resources and support

Speak with your doctor about any concerns when it comes to your health.

Visit the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) website for resources on digestive health and disease.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Digestive system (2024)

FAQs

What is the answer for digestive system? ›

The digestive system is made up of organs that are important for digesting food and liquids. These include the mouth, pharynx (throat), esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus.

What is the digestion question and answer? ›

Digestion is the process by which the complex food is broken down into simpler, soluble chemical compounds which is then used as nutrients by the body. It is a catabolic process. The food is digested physically, by mouth or chemically, by enzymes. Was this answer helpful?

What is the digestive system full summary? ›

The digestive system is a long, twisting tube that starts at the mouth and goes through the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and ends at the anus. The digestive system breaks down food into simple nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

What does the digestive system do responses? ›

The digestive system converts the foods we eat into their simplest forms, like glucose (sugars), amino acids (that make up protein) or fatty acids (that make up fats). The broken-down food is then absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine and the nutrients are carried to each cell in the body.

How to digest food in 5 minutes? ›

8 Ways to Naturally Speed Up Digestion
  1. Exercise regularly.
  2. Eat more fiber.
  3. Minimize fast food.
  4. Drink more water.
  5. Prioritize sleep.
  6. Keep stress levels low.
  7. Avoid overeating.
  8. Chew your food.
Sep 21, 2022

What is digestion in very short answer? ›

Digestion is defined as the process of breaking down large, insoluble molecules of food into smaller, water-soluble molecules which can then be readily absorbed by the body. Digestion is one among many life processes observed in nearly all living organisms.

What is the digestive process answer? ›

The processes of digestion include six activities: ingestion, propulsion, mechanical or physical digestion, chemical digestion, absorption, and defecation. The first of these processes, ingestion, refers to the entry of food into the alimentary canal through the mouth.

What is the main function of the digestive system answer? ›

The function of the digestive system is to digest and absorb food and then excrete the waste products with the help of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. Each of these organs plays a specific role in the digestive system.

How does digestion take place? ›

Digestion works by moving food through the GI tract. Digestion begins in the mouth with chewing and ends in the small intestine. As food passes through the GI tract, it mixes with digestive juices, causing large molecules of food to break down into smaller molecules.

Which organ absorbs water? ›

The small intestine, at around 20 feet long, is the organ primarily responsible for water absorption through its walls and into the bloodstream. From here, water will travel to cells across the body, providing them with the hydration to perform daily functions efficiently.

Where is my stomach located? ›

Where is the stomach located? Your stomach sits in your upper abdomen on the left side of your body. The top of your stomach connects to a valve called the esophageal sphincter (a muscle at the end of your esophagus). The bottom of your stomach connects to your small intestine.

What does the stomach do? ›

Stomach: An organ with strong muscular walls, the stomach holds the food and mixes it with acid and enzymes that continue to break the food down into a liquid or paste.

Where does digestion end? ›

Digestion ends in the small intestine of the human body. The digestive process starts in the mouth and finishes in the small intestine. The small intestine, which has three parts called the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, uses bile from the liver and enzymes secreted by the pancreas to break down food.

Why is digestion important? ›

Digestion is important for breaking down food into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair. Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients before the blood absorbs them and carries them to cells throughout the body.

What are the 7 steps of digestion? ›

The processes of digestion include seven activities: ingestion, propulsion, mechanical or physical digestion, chemical digestion, secretion, absorption, and defecation.

What is digestion for 7? ›

Digestion: The process by which food is broken down into simple absorbable substances is called Digestion. Digestion of food takes place in the digestive system. The digestive system is composed of the alimentary canal and associated glands.

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