What does the gastrointestinal tract do?
In this article, we will describe what does the gastrointestinal tract do.
1. The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) – is a long tube-like organ that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus.
2. The GI tract includes several organs – such as the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, gall bladder, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus.
Gastrointestinal tract
3. The main function of the GI tract – is to break down nutrients from food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and used for energy, growth, and cell repair. These are needed for the body to work properly and stay healthy. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water are all nutrients.
To achieve this function, the GI tract is lined with specialised cells that secrete digestive enzymes and other substances that help with digestion.
4. Small and large intestine – the small intestine is the longest part of the GI tract (7 metres) and is where most of the nutrient absorption occurs. The small intestine has three parts. The first part is called the duodenum. The jejunum is in the middle and the ileum is at the end.
The large intestine, or colon, is responsible for absorbing water and electrolytes and eliminating waste products. The caecum is the first part of the large intestine. The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch attached to the caecum. The colon is next. The rectum is the end of the large intestine.
5. Other organs – the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are accessory organs that are important for digestion and nutrient absorption.
6. Immune system – the GI tract is also an important part of the immune system, as it contains specialised immune cells that help protect against pathogens.
7. GI tract health problems – include neoplastic disease (including colon cancer which is common and very treatable), and benign diseases, e.g. peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gall stones, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and haemorrhoids.
Summary
We have described what does the gastrointestinal tract do? We hope you understand it better now.
Other resource
There is good information about gastrointestinal diseases on the NHS Scotland website.
