Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract (GAH-stroh-in-TES-tuh-nul trakt)
<Back to Last Page> <Full Glossary>
Definition:
The large, muscular tube that extends from the mouth to the anus, where the movement of muscles and release of hormones and enzymes digest food.
Also Known As:
Also called the alimentary canal or digestive tract.
Common Misspellings:
gastrotestinal, gastro-intestinal
Related Resources:
Your Digestion and How it Works
The digestive system is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus.
Why Is Digestion Important?
Digestion is the process by which food and drink are broken down into their smallest parts.
How Is Food Digested?
Digestion involves the mixing of food, its movement through the digestive tract, and chemical breakdown of the large molecules of food into smaller molecules.
<Back to Last Page> <Full Glossary>
