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digestive system
noun
: the bodily system concerned with the ingestion, digestion, and absorption of food and the discharge of residual wastes and consisting of the digestive tract and accessory glands (such as the salivary glands and the pancreas) that secrete digestive enzymes
Examples of digestive system in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Your Pregnancy Symptoms Week by Week Developmental Milestones Your unborn baby's digestive system starts working in week 18.
—Tiffany Eve Lawrence, Parents, 3 May 2024
By week 18, the fetus should have started to hear some of its first sounds like your heartbeat and gurgles in your digestive system.
—Tiffany Eve Lawrence, Parents, 3 May 2024
New research suggests that taking berberine and curcumin together might help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a common condition that affects the digestive system.
—Novella Lui, Health, 3 May 2024
The good news is that your digestive system gets more efficient at breaking down dietary fiber when it’s used to doing it.
—Marygrace Taylor, SELF, 2 May 2024
It’s found throughout the entire body and is intimately connected to the health of our nervous system, immune system, digestive system and more.
—Joy Organics, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
After being swallowed by the slug, the algal cells continue to live in its digestive system, their chloroplasts photosynthesizing and producing energy, which is then used by the slug.
—Helen Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Prebiotics are types of fiber that feed the friendly bacteria in the digestive system.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Fiber helps to keep things moving through your digestive system and can also help to reduce inflammation.
—Nick Mourtoupalas, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'digestive system.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1790, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near digestive system
Cite this Entry
“Digestive system.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digestive%20system. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
digestive system
noun
: the bodily system concerned with the intake, breakdown, and absorption of food and the discharge of wastes and that includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestine, anus, and glands (as the salivary glands)
Medical Definition
digestive system
noun
: the bodily system concerned with the ingestion, digestion, and absorption of food and the discharge of residual wastes and consisting of the digestive tract and accessory glands (such as the salivary glands and the pancreas) that secrete digestive enzymes
called also alimentary system
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