Review: Introduction to the Digestive System

Here is what we have learned from Introduction to the Digestive System:

• The digestive tract includes the digestive tract and its accessory organs, which process food into molecules that can be absorbed and utilized by the cells of the body.
• Food undergoes three types of processes in the body: digestion, absorption, and elimination.
• The digestive system prepares nutrients for utilization by body cells through six activities, or functions: ingestion, mechanical digestion, chemical digestion, movements, absorption, and elimination.
• The wall of the digestive tract has four layers or tunics: mucosa, submucosa, muscular layer, and serous layer or serosa.
• Regions of the digestive system can be divided into two main parts: alimentary tract and accessory organs.
• The alimentary tract of the digestive system is composed of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus.
• Associated with the alimentary tract are the following accessory organs: salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.