digestive tract
nounDefinition of digestive tract
: the tubular passage typically extending from the mouth to the anus or cloaca that functions in digestion and absorption of food and elimination of residual waste and that in most mammals includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus
— called also
alimentary canal, alimentary tract
Examples of digestive tract in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead, your temperature might spike when your digestive tract is under siege during a Crohn’s flare. — Korin Miller, SELF, "10 Crohn’s Disease Symptoms, From Diarrhea to Beyond," 13 June 2018 In the wild, the parents would take turns feeding their chick a nutrient-rich, cheese-like substance known as crop milk, which is generated in the bird’s digestive tract. — National Geographic, "What Does It Take to Raise a Flamingo?," 25 June 2018 While the early part of the digestive tract is largely free of bacteria, these later structures are home to trillions of gut microorganisms. — Markham Heid, Time, "Is It Possible To Eat Too Much Fruit?," 6 June 2018 In April, 64 pounds of trash were found in the digestive tract of a juvenile sperm whale that washed ashore in southern Spain. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Whale Dies in Thailand With 80 Plastic Bags in Its Stomach," 5 June 2018 As such, the male anglerfish barely has a digestive tract to speak of, and no instinct for the hunt. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian, "Why Bioluminescence Evolved to Be Red Light, and Blue," 26 June 2018 But the researchers also wondered whether these hard-shell, every-ready eggs survive a bird’s digestive tract. — Joanna Klein, New York Times, "Stick Insects Are Easy Bird Food, and That Might Help Them Reproduce," 5 June 2018 The practice does not replace drinking water but supplements it by skipping the digestive tract and going straight for the bloodstream. — Zahria Rogers, The Courier-Journal, "Concierge IV hydration therapy service seeks to rehydrate Louisville," 12 July 2018 The illness can cause open sores (ulcers) anywhere in your digestive tract, the Mayo Clinic says. — Korin Miller, SELF, "10 Crohn’s Disease Symptoms, From Diarrhea to Beyond," 13 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'digestive tract.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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