The digestive system consists of a system of organs that is designed to break food down into the basic materials for the body to use for growth or to replace tissue. The digestive tract is approximately 7.5 meters long (25 feet) and consists of the upper gastrointestinal tract (mouth, oesophagus and stomach) and the lower gastrointestinal tract, which itself made up of three parts: the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum), large intestine (caecum, colon and rectum) and the anus.
There are also a number of other organs involved in the digestion process, including the liver, which breaks down amino acids, fatty acids, glucose and vitamins; stores glycogen for release when necessary; and forms bile for digestion, releasing it into the gall bladder and then to the duodenum.
In this section, you'll find an in-depth guide to the conditions and diseases that may affect the efficient working of the digestive system, including appendicitis, gastroenteritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease, gallstones, hernias, peptic ulcers, stomach cancer and colorectal cancer.
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