Digestive System Anatomy Overview

The components of the digestive system explained shows a detailed layout of the gastrointestinal tract and its accessory organs. The system can be traced from top to bottom, starting with the esophagus which leads to the stomach. The small intestine consists of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The large intestine includes the cecum, ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon, finally ending at the rectum and anus.

Vocabulary: The hepatic flexure is the bend in the colon where the ascending colon transitions to the transverse colon.

Definition: The appendix, while not crucial for digestion, is a small, finger-like projection attached to the cecum.

Example: The liver and gallbladder work together - the liver produces bile which is stored in the gallbladder until needed for fat digestion.

Highlight: The parts of the gastrointestinal tract diagram shows how the digestive system is essentially one long tube that winds through the body, with various specialized sections for different digestive functions.