Meet the gastrointestinal tract! | Gastrointestinal system physiology | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy

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The gastrointestinal tract processes food through the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum, allowing for digestion, absorption, and waste elimination. Each section of the digestive system plays a specific role in breaking down food components and extracting nutrients for bodily functions.

Insights

  • The gastrointestinal tract is a complex system that involves several stages of digestion, starting from the mouth, moving through the stomach and small intestine, and ending in the large intestine for absorption and storage of nutrients.
  • Each part of the gastrointestinal tract plays a specific role in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, highlighting the importance of a well-functioning digestive system for overall health and well-being.

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Recent questions

  • What is the function of the small intestine?

    Nutrient absorption

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Summary

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Digestive System: Food's Journey Through the Body

  • The gastrointestinal tract is a pathway through which food passes, starting from the mouth where chewing and hydrolysis occur to create a bolus for swallowing.
  • After the mouth, food moves to the esophagus for propulsion towards the stomach, where churning and hydrolysis break down food into chyme for further digestion.
  • Following the stomach, the small intestine is where hydrolysis and nutrient absorption take place, allowing the body to utilize the digested food products.
  • Subsequently, food enters the large intestine, or colon, for water and nutrient absorption, before reaching the rectum for storage until expulsion through the anus.
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