90 Medical Terminology: Mastering the Basics Overview of Digestive System Anatomy and Physiology Super Bowl parties are great fun. We get together with friends, watch the game, and, of course, eat our favorite snacks and beverages. While we’re caught up in the excitement of cheering on our favorite team, our digestive systems are quietly working in the background, breaking down those snacks into life- sustaining chemical substances that will nourish the cells in our bodies and give us energy. In this section, we will briefly explore the major organs of the digestive system and how they work together to accomplish these tasks. Major Organs of the Digestive System The digestive system is also called the digestive tract, the alimentary (ăl-ĭ-MĔN-tăr-ē) canal, and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The digestive tract consists of a long, hollow tube that extends from the pharynx (FĂR-inks), more commonly known as the throat, to the anus. Major organs of the GI tract include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intes- tine, large intestine (colon), rectum, and anus (Figure 3.1). The liver, gallbladder, pancreas, salivary glands, and teeth are accessory organs that aid in digestion. Main Functions of the Digestive System The job of the digestive system is to ingest (take in), break down, and absorb nutrients from food and liq- uids and to eliminate waste products of the digestive process. Digestion begins in the mouth, where the teeth and salivary glands work together to break down into smaller pieces the chicken wings, salsa, and chips consumed during the Super Bowl party. When the food is swallowed, it moves from the phar- ynx into the esophagus (ĕ-SŎF-ă-gŭs), a tubular structure that carries food into the stomach. The stomach is an expandable organ, so it can accommodate a late- night pizza craving or a Super Bowl feeding frenzy. It acts like a blender by converting food into a paste- like mixture. Digestive juices and enzymes from the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder reduce the semi-digested Duodenum Jejunum Ileum Cecum Appendix Rectum Sigmoid colon Ascending colon Descending colon Transverse colon (cut) Pancreas Anus Gallbladder Liver Esophagus Stomach Figure 3.1 Organs of the digestive system