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
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 2018 In the recipe, the avocado provides a good amount of fiber, which the magazine says is good for your digestive tract. — Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, "Full of healthful fat, salmon is one of the easiest fish to grill," 24 June 2018 Long digestive tracts retain seeds for long periods, enabling dispersal across wide distances. — Adam Popescu, National Geographic, "These Fish Keep Forests Alive—And Fishing Threatens Them," 12 June 2018 The animal has two brains but a single respiratory system, digestive tract and body, according to SWNS. — Fox News, "Rare two-headed snake discovered in backyard," 4 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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