The digestive system is a complex network of organs and tissues that work together to break down food and absorb nutrients. It consists of the gastrointestinal tract, also known as the digestive tract or alimentary canal, and the liver, pancreas, and gall bladder. The gastrointestinal tract is a series of hollow organs connected in a long, winding tube from the mouth to the anus. These organs include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.
The solid organs of the digestive system are the liver, pancreas, and gall bladder.Animals have evolved different types of digestive systems to help them digest the various foods they consume. The four main types are monogastric, avian, ruminant, and pseudorumiant. Monogastric animals have a simple digestive system with one stomach chamber. This includes humans and other mammals such as cats and dogs.
Avian animals have a two-chambered stomach with a crop for storing food before it enters the gizzard for grinding. Ruminants have four-chambered stomachs that allow them to ferment food before it enters the small intestine for digestion. Pseudorumiants have a three-chambered stomach with a cecum that contains microorganisms necessary for digesting plant material.The accessory organs play an important role in producing and delivering digestive juices to the intestine during digestion and absorption. These include the salivary glands, liver, gall bladder, and pancreas.
The salivary glands produce saliva which helps break down food in the mouth. The liver produces bile which helps break down fats in the small intestine. The gall bladder stores bile until it is needed for digestion. The pancreas produces enzymes that help break down proteins and carbohydrates in the small intestine.The digestive enzymes of these animals cannot break down cellulose but the microorganisms present in their digestive system can.
Nerves connect the central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord to the digestive system and control some digestive functions. Muscles in the small intestine mix food with digestive juices from the pancreas, liver, and intestine and push it forward for further digestion.When digesting proteins and some fats, the stomach lining must be protected from being digested by pepsin. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research on many diseases and conditions.Working together, nerves, hormones, bacteria, blood, and organs in the digestive system break down the foods and liquids you consume every day. Once this process is complete, digestive juices take over in the proventricle to continue with digestion.
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