GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT Meaning and
Definition
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The gastrointestinal tract is defined as a long, flexible tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus, spanning the entire length of the digestive system. It is responsible for the ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination of food. Comprising several organs, the process of digestion begins as food is chewed in the mouth and mixed with saliva, then it passes through the esophagus into the stomach.
Within the stomach, the food is further broken down and mixed with gastric enzymes and acids, resulting in the formation of chyme. From there, the chyme is transported into the small intestine, consisting of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. It is in the small intestine that the majority of nutrient absorption takes place, facilitated by the numerous specialized cells present in the lining.
As the digested food progresses through the small intestine, the remaining waste products move into the large intestine, or colon. Here, water and electrolytes are reabsorbed, and the waste material is compacted into feces. Finally, the feces are eliminated through the rectum and expelled from the body through the anus during the process of defecation.
The gastrointestinal tract is crucial for maintaining proper digestion and nutrient absorption. This complex system involves the coordination of multiple organs, enzymes, and hormones to ensure effective breakdown and utilization of ingested food. Any disturbances or disorders within the gastrointestinal tract can lead to various digestive problems, such as indigestion, gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.
Common Misspellings for GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
- fastrointestinal tract
- vastrointestinal tract
- bastrointestinal tract
- hastrointestinal tract
- yastrointestinal tract
- tastrointestinal tract
- gzstrointestinal tract
- gsstrointestinal tract
- gwstrointestinal tract
- gqstrointestinal tract
- gaatrointestinal tract
- gaztrointestinal tract
- gaxtrointestinal tract
- gadtrointestinal tract
- gaetrointestinal tract
- gawtrointestinal tract
- gasrrointestinal tract
- gasfrointestinal tract
- gasgrointestinal tract
Etymology of GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
The word "gastrointestinal" comes from a combination of two roots: "gastro" and "intestinal".
• "Gastro" is derived from the Greek word "gastēr", which means "stomach" or "belly". This root is also seen in other medical terms like "gastric" (related to the stomach) and "gastroenteritis" (inflammation of the stomach and intestines).
• "Intestinal" comes from the Latin word "intestinus", which means "internal" or "within". It is further derived from the Latin word "intestinum", meaning "intestine". The term "intestinal" is commonly used to refer to the entire gastrointestinal tract.
Similar spelling words for GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
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