Your Digestive System & How it Works

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What is the digestive system?

The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal tract—also called the GI tract or digestive tract—and the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus. The hollow organs that make up the GI tract are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. The liver, pancreas, and gallbladder are the solid organs of the digestive system.

The small intestine has three parts. The first part is called the duodenum. The jejunum is in the middle and the ileum is at the end. The large intestine includes the appendix, cecum, colon, and rectum. The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch attached to the cecum. The cecum is the first part of the large intestine. The colon is next. The rectum is the end of the large intestine.

The digestive system

Bacteria in your GI tract, also called gut flora or microbiome, help with digestion. Parts of your nervous and circulatory systems also help. Working together, nerves, hormones, bacteria, blood, and the organs of your digestive system digest the foods and liquids you eat or drink each day.

Why is digestion important?

Digestion is important because your body needs nutrients from food and drink to work properly and stay healthy. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water are nutrients. Your digestive system breaks nutrients into parts small enough for your body to absorb and use for energy, growth, and cell repair.

• Proteins break into amino acids
• Fats break into fatty acids and glycerol
• Carbohydrates break into simple sugars

MyPlate offers ideas and tips to help you meet your individual health needs.

Your digestive system breaks nutrients into parts that are small enough for your body to absorb.

How does my digestive system work?

Each part of your digestive system helps to move food and liquid through your GI tract, break food and liquid into smaller parts, or both. Once foods are broken into small enough parts, your body can absorb and move the nutrients to where they are needed. Your large intestine absorbs water, and the waste products of digestion become stool. Nerves and hormones help control the digestive process.

The digestive process

Organ	Movement	Digestive Juices Added	Food Particles Broken Down
Mouth	Chewing	Saliva	Starches, a type of carbohydrate
Esophagus	Peristalsis	None	None
Stomach	Upper muscle in stomach relaxes to let food enter, and lower muscle mixes food with digestive juice	Stomach acid and digestive enzymes	Proteins
Small intestine	Peristalsis	Small intestine digestive juice	Starches, proteins, and carbohydrates
Pancreas	None	Pancreatic juice	Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
Liver	None	Bile	Fats
Large intestine	Peristalsis	None	Bacteria in the large intestine can also break down food.

How does food move through my GI tract?

Food moves through your GI tract by a process called peristalsis. The large, hollow organs of your GI tract contain a layer of muscle that enables their walls to move. The movement pushes food and liquid through your GI tract and mixes the contents within each organ. The muscle behind the food contracts and squeezes the food forward, while the muscle in front of the food relaxes to allow the food to move.

The digestive process starts when you put food in your mouth.

Mouth. Food starts to move through your GI tract when you eat. When you swallow, your tongue pushes the food into your throat. A small flap of tissue, called the epiglottis, folds over your windpipe to prevent choking and the food passes into your esophagus.

Esophagus. Once you begin swallowing, the process becomes automatic. Your brain signals the muscles of the esophagus and peristalsis begins.

Lower esophageal sphincter. When food reaches the end of your esophagus, a ringlike muscle—called the lower esophageal sphincter —relaxes and lets food pass into your stomach. This sphincter usually stays closed to keep what’s in your stomach from flowing back into your esophagus.

Stomach. After food enters your stomach, the stomach muscles mix the food and liquid with digestive juices. The stomach slowly empties its contents, called chyme, into your small intestine.

Small intestine. The muscles of the small intestine mix food with digestive juices from the pancreas, liver, and intestine, and push the mixture forward for further digestion. The walls of the small intestine absorb water and the digested nutrients into your bloodstream. As peristalsis continues, the waste products of the digestive process move into the large intestine.

Large intestine. Waste products from the digestive process include undigested parts of food, fluid, and older cells from the lining of your GI tract. The large intestine absorbs water and changes the waste from liquid into stool. Peristalsis helps move the stool into your rectum.

Rectum. The lower end of your large intestine, the rectum, stores stool until it pushes stool out of your anus during a bowel movement.

Watch this video to see how food moves through your GI tract.

How does my digestive system break food into small parts my body can use?

As food moves through your GI tract, your digestive organs break the food into smaller parts using:

• motion, such as chewing, squeezing, and mixing
• digestive juices, such as stomach acid, bile, and enzymes

Mouth. The digestive process starts in your mouth when you chew. Your salivary glands make saliva, a digestive juice, which moistens food so it moves more easily through your esophagus into your stomach. Saliva also has an enzyme that begins to break down starches in your food.

Esophagus. After you swallow, peristalsis pushes the food down your esophagus into your stomach.

Stomach. Glands in your stomach lining make stomach acid and enzymes that break down food. Muscles of your stomach mix the food with these digestive juices.

Pancreas. Your pancreas makes a digestive juice that has enzymes that break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The pancreas delivers the digestive juice to the small intestine through small tubes called ducts.

Liver. Your liver makes a digestive juice called bile that helps digest fats and some vitamins. Bile ducts carry bile from your liver to your gallbladder for storage, or to the small intestine for use.

Gallbladder. Your gallbladder stores bile between meals. When you eat, your gallbladder squeezes bile through the bile ducts into your small intestine.

Small intestine. Your small intestine makes digestive juice, which mixes with bile and pancreatic juice to complete the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Bacteria in your small intestine make some of the enzymes you need to digest carbohydrates. Your small intestine moves water from your bloodstream into your GI tract to help break down food. Your small intestine also absorbs water with other nutrients.

Large intestine. In your large intestine, more water moves from your GI tract into your bloodstream. Bacteria in your large intestine help break down remaining nutrients and make vitamin K. Waste products of digestion, including parts of food that are still too large, become stool.

What happens to the digested food?

The small intestine absorbs most of the nutrients in your food, and your circulatory system passes them on to other parts of your body to store or use. Special cells help absorbed nutrients cross the intestinal lining into your bloodstream. Your blood carries simple sugars, amino acids, glycerol, and some vitamins and salts to the liver. Your liver stores, processes, and delivers nutrients to the rest of your body when needed.

The lymph system, a network of vessels that carry white blood cells and a fluid called lymph throughout your body to fight infection, absorbs fatty acids and vitamins.

Your body uses sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and glycerol to build substances you need for energy, growth, and cell repair.

How does my body control the digestive process?

Your hormones and nerves work together to help control the digestive process. Signals flow within your GI tract and back and forth from your GI tract to your brain.

Hormones

Cells lining your stomach and small intestine make and release hormones that control how your digestive system works. These hormones tell your body when to make digestive juices and send signals to your brain that you are hungry or full. Your pancreas also makes hormones that are important to digestion.

Nerves

You have nerves that connect your central nervous system—your brain and spinal cord—to your digestive system and control some digestive functions. For example, when you see or smell food, your brain sends a signal that causes your salivary glands to “make your mouth water” to prepare you to eat.

You also have an enteric nervous system (ENS)—nerves within the walls of your GI tract. When food stretches the walls of your GI tract, the nerves of your ENS release many different substances that speed up or delay the movement of food and the production of digestive juices. The nerves send signals to control the actions of your gut muscles to contract and relax to push food through your intestines.

Clinical Trials

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.

What are clinical trials, and are they right for you?

Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trials.

What clinical trials are open?

Clinical trials that are currently open and are recruiting can be viewed at www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

9 Tips for Smooth Digestion

Want a “recipe” for smoother digestion? Start with these nine tips. They’ll help you prevent symptoms such as bloating, belches, or heartburn.

Of course, if you have any digestive symptoms that are severe or won’t go away, see your doctor.

1. Tap Into Plant Power

Plant foods have fiber. This helps you stay regular. Bonus: It fills you up, which is a plus if you want to lose weight.

Go for high-fiber foods, such as:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Nuts and seeds
• Whole grains
• Beans and lentils

Start slowly. As you gradually add fiber to your diet, also increase the amount of water you drink. Water is fiber’s best friend. Fiber soaks it up, and this will help you avoid cramping or gas.

2. Have a Side of Soup

Water and other fluids such as soup, broth, and juice can ease things through your system.

Not a soup fan? Try herbal tea or water with a slice of cucumber, lemon, or lime. Or anything, really, as long as it doesn’t have alcohol (which dehydrates you) or too much caffeine (which can stimulate your intestines too much).

If you favor fizzy drinks, keep in mind that they increase stomach acid, which gives some people heartburn.

3.Break It Down

Eat smaller amounts more slowly. Chew your food thoroughly to make your digestive system’s job a little easier.

4. Keep Moving

Is there anything exercise can’t do for you? The list of benefits just keeps growing. You already know it’s good for your heart and your waistline. Turns out that active people also have smoother digestion.

Watch the timing. For some people, exercise right after a meal can cause indigestion. So schedule your workouts before meals or wait at least an hour after eating.

5. Bring on the “Good” Bugs

Probiotics are “good” bacteria that are in your gut. They are in some yogurts and fermented foods. They help with your digestion. You can also add them to your diet with supplements.

6. Outsmart Fatty Fare

Fats tend to stay in your system the longest, making them harder to digest. You may have even noticed a feeling of fullness or burning after a rich meal.

Limit fatty foods such as chips, burgers, and greasy foods. Instead, eat lean meat and fish. Also, try to grill your meals more often than you fry them.

7. Dear (Food) Diary

Pay attention to foods that seem to trigger stomach discomfort. Write down what you ate and how you felt so you remember for next time.

Some people find that acidic foods, like tomatoes or citrus fruits, trigger heartburn. For others, wheat, onion, or dairy products such as milk or cheese cause problems.

Spicy food is a common cause of heartburn, stomach pain, or diarrhea, so you may want to stay away from anything that heats up your mouth.

Smoking can also upset your digestion. Add that to your list of reasons to quit. If you’ve tried to quit before, that’s OK! Keep trying and ask your doctor for help.

8. Soothe Your Stress

Stress affects your whole body, including your digestive system. Ditch stress whenever you can. For those problems you can’t avoid, find ways to relax. It may also help to sign up for a few sessions with a counselor or to take a stress management class. For better digestion, do what you can to keep your stress under control.

9. Get Expert Advice

Some medications or medical problems can interfere with smooth digestion. If you’ve ruled out other problems but still have symptoms, tell your doctor what’s been going on. Bring a list of any medicines you take. This might help spot the source of your problem.

Good foods to help your digestion

The occasional fry-up or alcohol binge is unlikely to give you anything more than a short-lived stomach upset. But overindulge too often and you could be storing up trouble for yourself. Here’s a tummy-friendly diet to aim for.

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Fill up on fibre to prevent constipation

It’s a good idea to try to eat more fibre or roughage, as most people in the UK do not get enough. A diet rich in fibre can help digestion and prevent constipation.

Aim for the recommended dietary intake of 30g of fibre a day.

For a healthy bowel, you need fibre from a variety of sources, such as:

• wholemeal bread
• brown rice
• fruit and veg
• beans
• oats

Some people find cereals and grains bring on bloating and irritable bowel syndrome. If that’s the case, get your fibre from fruit and vegetables instead.

Find out how to boost your fibre intake

Drink plenty of fluids to aid digestion

It’s important to keep drinking, especially water. It encourages the passage of waste through your digestive system and helps soften poo.

Fibre acts like a sponge, absorbing water. Without fluid, the fibre cannot do its job and you’ll get constipation.

A good way to make sure you’re getting enough fluids is to drink a glass of water with every meal. Avoid caffeine drinks as they can cause heartburn.

Learn how to choose healthier drinks

Cut down on fat for a healthy gut

Fatty foods, such as chips, burgers and fried foods, are harder to digest and can cause stomach pain and heartburn.

Cut back on greasy fried foods to ease your stomach’s workload.

Try to eat more lean meat and fish, drink skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, and grill rather than fry foods.

Go easy on spice to avoid tummy troubles

Many people love spicy food and it does not bother their digestive system. Others find their tummy is upset when they have spicy food.

It’s not just scorching hot foods like chillies that trigger heartburn. Milder but flavourful foods like garlic and onion can also bring it on.

If spicy foods give you heartburn, stomach pain or diarrhoea, go easy on them in future.

If you already have a problem like heartburn or an irritable bowel, avoid them completely.

Beware gut symptom triggers

Some people find particular foods cause them problems. Acidic foods, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, salad dressings and fizzy drinks, can trigger heartburn, while wheat and onions may cause irritable bowel syndrome.

And if you cannot digest lactose, the sugar in milk, you’ll develop wind and diarrhoea after drinking milk or eating dairy products, including cream, cheese, yoghurt and chocolate. 

Try to stay away from foods and drinks that trigger your digestive symptoms. Keep a food diary to work out which foods cause your symptoms.

Choose the right drinks to ease digestion

Drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, colas, tea and some fizzy drinks, boost acid in the stomach, leading to heartburn in some people.

Fizzy drinks in general tend to bloat the tummy, which can also lead to heartburn.

To make digestive problems less likely, choose drinks that are not fizzy and do not contain caffeine, such as herbal teas, milk and plain water.

If you cannot do without your coffee or tea, limit your intake to 1 or 2 cups a day.

Try tummy-friendly yoghurt

Probiotics are so-called “friendly bacteria” that are also found naturally in the gut.

They have been linked to all sorts of digestive health benefits, including helping irritable bowel syndrome and traveller’s diarrhoea. 

You can take probiotics as supplements available from health food shops, or in live yoghurt, which is a good natural source.

You’ll need to take them every day for at least 4 weeks to see any beneficial effect.

Find out more about probiotics

Page last reviewed: 27 August 2019
Next review due: 27 August 2022

Your Digestive System: 5 Ways to Support Gut Health

Digestive system problems such as heartburn, gas, bloating and constipation reflect what’s happening throughout your body. “As we age, the natural cycles slow down and don’t work as well,” says Johns Hopkins gastroenterologist Gerard Mullin, M.D.

The main drivers of gut health change are shifts in stomach acid, gut immunity and gastrointestinal flora—the complex ecosystem of bacteria in your digestive system.

When gut health is good, he says, you’re less likely to experience damaging inflammation and lapses in immunity.

The following ways to protect your digestive system may sound surprising because they’re not just about diet. “Everything ties together,” Mullin says.

Eat the right foods.

“Americans’ fiber intake is 40 to 50 percent of what it should be,” Mullin says. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides the fiber that builds good bacteria and gut health.

Other foods that build a healthy digestive system include kefir (a fermented milk drink that’s similar to yogurt and is rich in probiotics) and other fermented or pickled foods (such as kimchi, sauerkraut and pickled ginger).

Ask your health care provider about foods for specific problems such as constipation or bloating.

Get more sleep.

Not getting enough sleep is linked to a higher prevalence of obesity, which sets you up for digestive system disorders.

Move more.

As with other aspects of health, exercise is the best way to lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight to ward off digestive system problems.

Manage stress.

Reducing stress is fundamental to reducing heartburn, Mullin says. “There’s no magic diet that works.” Try relaxation therapies along with other distraction techniques. 

Get help for issues like anxiety and depression.

Mood and digestive system health (especially disorders like irritable bowel syndrome) are closely linked via the brain-gut connection.

Your Digestive System (for Kids)

So there you are, sitting at lunch, enjoying some grilled-chicken pizza and a few orange wedges. When you’re finished, you take a last drink of milk, wipe your mouth, and head to your next class. In a few minutes you’re thinking about the capital of Oregon or your science fair project. You’ve completely forgotten about that pizza lunch you just ate. But it’s still in your stomach — sort of like a science experiment that happens all the time!

The Mouth Starts Everything Moving

Your digestive (say: dye-JES-tiv) system started working even before you took the first bite of your pizza. And the digestive system will be busy at work on your chewed-up lunch for the next few hours — or sometimes days, depending upon what you’ve eaten. This process, called digestion, allows your body to get the nutrients and energy it needs from the food you eat. So let’s find out what’s happening to that pizza, orange, and milk.

Even before you eat, when you smell a tasty food, see it, or think about it, digestion begins. Saliva (say: suh-LYE-vuh), or spit, begins to form in your mouth.

When you do eat, the saliva breaks down the chemicals in the food a bit, which helps make the food mushy and easy to swallow. Your tongue helps out, pushing the food around while you chew with your teeth. When you’re ready to swallow, the tongue pushes a tiny bit of mushed-up food called a bolus (say: BO-luss) toward the back of your throat and into the opening of your esophagus, the second part of the digestive tract.

On the Way Down

The esophagus (say: ih-SOF-eh-guss) is like a stretchy pipe that’s about 10 inches (25 centimeters) long. It moves food from the back of your throat to your stomach. But also at the back of your throat is your windpipe, which allows air to come in and out of your body. When you swallow a small ball of mushed-up food or liquids, a special flap called the epiglottis (say: ep-ih-GLOT-iss) flops down over the opening of your windpipe to make sure the food enters the esophagus and not the windpipe.

If you’ve ever drunk something too fast, started to cough, and heard someone say that your drink “went down the wrong way,” the person meant that it went down your windpipe by mistake. This happens when the epiglottis doesn’t have enough time to flop down, and you cough involuntarily (without thinking about it) to clear your windpipe.

Once food has entered the esophagus, it doesn’t just drop right into your stomach. Instead, muscles in the walls of the esophagus move in a wavy way to slowly squeeze the food through the esophagus. This takes about 2 or 3 seconds.

See You in the Stomach

Your stomach, which is attached to the end of the esophagus, is a stretchy sack shaped like the letter J. It has three important jobs:

1. to store the food you’ve eaten
2. to break down the food into a liquidy mixture
3. to slowly empty that liquidy mixture into the small intestine

The stomach is like a mixer, churning and mashing together all the small balls of food that came down the esophagus into smaller and smaller pieces. It does this with help from the strong muscles in the walls of the stomach and gastric (say: GAS-trik) juices that also come from the stomach’s walls. In addition to breaking down food, gastric juices also help kill bacteria that might be in the eaten food.

Onward to the small intestine!

22 Feet Isn’t Small at All

The small intestine (say: in-TESS-tin) is a long tube that’s about 1½ inches to 2 inches (about 3.5 to 5 centimeters) around, and it’s packed inside you beneath your stomach. If you stretched out an adult’s small intestine, it would be about 22 feet long (6.7 meters) — that’s like 22 notebooks lined up end to end, all in a row!

The small intestine breaks down the food mixture even more so your body can absorb all the vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The grilled chicken on your pizza is full of proteins — and a little fat — and the small intestine can help extract them with a little help from three friends: the pancreas (say: PAN-kree-uss), liver, and gallbladder.

Those organs send different juices to the first part of the small intestine. These juices help to digest food and allow the body to absorb nutrients. The pancreas makes juices that help the body digest fats and protein. A juice from the liver called bile helps to absorb fats into the bloodstream. And the gallbladder serves as a warehouse for bile, storing it until the body needs it.

Your food may spend as long as 4 hours in the small intestine and will become a very thin, watery mixture. It’s time well spent because, at the end of the journey, the nutrients from your pizza, orange, and milk can pass from the intestine into the blood. Once in the blood, your body is closer to benefiting from the complex carbohydrates in the pizza crust, the vitamin C in your orange, the protein in the chicken, and the calcium in your milk.

Next stop for these nutrients: the liver! And the leftover waste — parts of the food that your body can’t use — goes on to the large intestine.

Love Your Liver

The nutrient-rich blood comes directly to the liver for processing. The liver filters out harmful substances or wastes, turning some of the waste into more bile. The liver even helps figure out how many nutrients will go to the rest of the body, and how many will stay behind in storage. For example, the liver stores certain vitamins and a type of sugar your body uses for energy.

That’s One Large Intestine

At 3 or 4 inches around (about 7 to 10 centimeters), the large intestine is fatter than the small intestine and it’s almost the last stop on the digestive tract. Like the small intestine, it is packed into the body, and would measure 5 feet (about 1.5 meters) long if you spread it out.

The large intestine has a tiny tube with a closed end coming off it called the appendix (say: uh-PEN-dix). It’s part of the digestive tract, but it doesn’t seem to do anything, though it can cause big problems because it sometimes gets infected and needs to be removed.

Like we mentioned, after most of the nutrients are removed from the food mixture there is waste left over — stuff your body can’t use. This stuff needs to be passed out of the body. Can you guess where it ends up? Well, here’s a hint: It goes out with a flush.

Before it goes, it passes through the part of the large intestine called the colon (say: CO-lun), which is where the body gets its last chance to absorb the water and some minerals into the blood. As the water leaves the waste product, what’s left gets harder and harder as it keeps moving along, until it becomes a solid. Yep, it’s poop (also called stool or a bowel movement).

The large intestine pushes the poop into the rectum (say: REK-tum), the very last stop on the digestive tract. The solid waste stays here until you are ready to go to the bathroom. When you go to the bathroom, you are getting rid of this solid waste by pushing it through the anus (say: AY-nus). There’s the flush we were talking about!

Dig That Digestive System

You can help your digestive system by drinking water and eating a healthy diet that includes foods rich in fiber. High-fiber foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, make it easier for poop to pass through your system.

The digestive system is a pretty important part of your body. Without it, you couldn’t get the nutrients you need to grow properly and stay healthy. And next time you sit down to lunch, you’ll know where your food goes — from start to finish!

5 Ways to Keep Your Digestive System Healthy | by Doctor On Demand

By Doctor On Demand

Your digestive system has a major impact on how your body functions and your day-to-day life. From producing energy and absorbing nutrients to affecting your mood, there is good reason to keep your digestive system healthy.

What is the digestive system?

The digestive system consists of the organs responsible for breaking down your food to absorb nutrients and expel waste. These organs include the digestive tract, liver, pancreas and gallbladder. The digestive tract consists of a long tube that spans from your mouth through the pharynx, esophagus, stomach and small intestine to the colon.

Why is the digestive system important?

The process of digestion turns your food into nutrients which are needed to function and survive. Your body uses nutrients for energy, growth and cell repair. Further, research has shown that your digestive system can affect mood and overall mental health due to the strong connection between the digestive system and the brain.

What are signs of digestive problems?

Experiencing digestive problems can happen to anyone. Common symptoms include cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea or constipation. While these are not always a sign of something more serious, certain conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Diverticulitis, and Crohn’s Disease can put you at a higher risk for these symptoms.

Here are 5 tips to keep your digestive system healthy:

• Eat healthy foods — For your digestive system this means eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and both insoluble and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber found in foods like oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, and beans helps your digestive system absorb water. Insoluble fiber found in foods like wheat bran, vegetables, and whole grains keeps everything moving through your digestive tract.
• Stay hydrated — Drinking plenty of water helps your digestive system function smoothly. Typically, it’s recommended that women drink 2.7 liters of water per day, and that men drink 3.7 liters per day.
• Take probiotics — Probiotics are the good bacteria in your stomach. They can be added to your diet by eating yogurt, fermented foods or can be consumed in daily supplements.
• Get moving — Exercise increases blood flow and metabolism for smoother digestion.
• See a doctor — If you experience digestive problems regularly, it’s important to see a doctor who can help track your digestive health and manage your symptoms.

For tips that impact both your digestive system and your mind, read Mind-Gut Connection.

Digestive System: Function, Organs & Anatomy

Overview

Structure of the Digestive System

What is the digestive system?

Your digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and your liver, pancreas and gallbladder. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs that are connected to each other from your mouth to your anus. The organs that make up your GI tract, in the order that they are connected, include your mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus.

What does the digestive system do?

Your digestive system is uniquely constructed to do its job of turning your food into the nutrients and energy you need to survive. And when it’s done with that, it handily packages your solid waste, or stool, for disposal when you have a bowel movement.

Why is digestion important?

Digestion is important because your body needs nutrients from the food you eat and the liquids you drink in order to stay healthy and function properly. Nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Your digestive system breaks down and absorbs nutrients from the food and liquids you consume to use for important things like energy, growth and repairing cells.

Anatomy

What organs make up the digestive system?

The main organs that make up the digestive system (in order of their function) are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus. Helping them along the way are the pancreas, gall bladder and liver.

Here’s how these organs work together in your digestive system.

Mouth

The mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract. In fact, digestion starts before you even take a bite. Your salivary glands get active as you see and smell that pasta dish or warm bread. After you start eating, you chew your food into pieces that are more easily digested. Your saliva mixes with the food to begin to break it down into a form your body can absorb and use. When you swallow, your tongue passes the food into your throat and into your esophagus.

Esophagus

Located in your throat near your trachea (windpipe), the esophagus receives food from your mouth when you swallow. The epiglottis is a small flap that folds over your windpipe as you swallow to prevent you from choking (when food goes into your windpipe). A series of muscular contractions within the esophagus called peristalsis delivers food to your stomach.

But first a ring-like muscle at the bottom of your esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter has to relax to let the food in. The sphincter then contracts and prevents the contents of the stomach from flowing back into the esophagus. (When it doesn’t and these contents flow back into the esophagus, you may experience acid reflux or heartburn.)

Stomach

The stomach is a hollow organ, or “container,” that holds food while it is being mixed with stomach enzymes. These enzymes continue the process of breaking down food into a usable form. Cells in the lining of your stomach secrete a strong acid and powerful enzymes that are responsible for the breakdown process. When the contents of the stomach are processed enough, they’re released into the small intestine.

Small intestine

Made up of three segments — the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum — the small intestine is a 22-foot long muscular tube that breaks down food using enzymes released by the pancreas and bile from the liver. Peristalsis also works in this organ, moving food through and mixing it with digestive juices from the pancreas and liver.

The duodenum is the first segment of the small intestine. It’s largely responsible for the continuous breaking-down process. The jejunum and ileum lower in the intestine are mainly responsible for the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.

Contents of the small intestine start out semi-solid and end in a liquid form after passing through the organ. Water, bile, enzymes and mucus contribute to the change in consistency. Once the nutrients have been absorbed and the leftover-food residue liquid has passed through the small intestine, it then moves on to the large intestine, or colon.

Pancreas

The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum that break down protein, fats and carbohydrates. The pancreas also makes insulin, passing it directly into the bloodstream. Insulin is the chief hormone in your body for metabolizing sugar.

Liver

The liver has many functions, but its main job within the digestive system is to process the nutrients absorbed from the small intestine. Bile from the liver secreted into the small intestine also plays an important role in digesting fat and some vitamins.

The liver is your body’s chemical “factory.” It takes the raw materials absorbed by the intestine and makes all the various chemicals your body needs to function.

The liver also detoxifies potentially harmful chemicals. It breaks down and secretes many drugs that can be toxic to your body.

Gallbladder

The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile from the liver, and then releases it into the duodenum in the small intestine to help absorb and digest fats.

Colon (Large Intestine)

The large intestine, or colon, is responsible for processing waste so that emptying the bowels is easy and convenient. It’s a 6-foot long muscular tube that connects the small intestine to the rectum.

The large intestine is made up of the cecum, the ascending (right) colon, the transverse (across) colon, the descending (left) colon, and the sigmoid colon, which connects to the rectum.

Stool, or waste left over from the digestive process, is passed through the colon by means of peristalsis, first in a liquid state and ultimately in a solid form. As stool passes through the colon, water is removed. Stool is stored in the sigmoid (S-shaped) colon until a “mass movement” empties it into the rectum once or twice a day.

It normally takes about 36 hours for stool to get through the colon. The stool itself is mostly food debris and bacteria. These “good” bacteria perform several useful functions, such as synthesizing various vitamins, processing waste products and food particles and protecting against harmful bacteria. When the descending colon becomes full of stool, or feces, it empties its contents into the rectum to begin the process of elimination (a bowel movement).

Rectum

The rectum is a straight, 8-inch chamber that connects the colon to the anus. The rectum’s job is to receive stool from the colon, let you know that there is stool to be evacuated (pooped out) and to hold the stool until evacuation happens. When anything (gas or stool) comes into the rectum, sensors send a message to the brain. The brain then decides if the rectal contents can be released or not.

If they can, the sphincters relax and the rectum contracts, disposing its contents. If the contents cannot be disposed, the sphincter contracts and the rectum accommodates so that the sensation temporarily goes away.

Anus

The anus is the last part of the digestive tract. It is a 2-inch long canal consisting of the pelvic floor muscles and the two anal sphincters (internal and external). The lining of the upper anus is able to detect rectal contents. It lets you know whether the contents are liquid, gas or solid.

The anus is surrounded by sphincter muscles that are important in allowing control of stool. The pelvic floor muscle creates an angle between the rectum and the anus that stops stool from coming out when it’s not supposed to. The internal sphincter is always tight, except when stool enters the rectum. This keeps us continent (prevents us from pooping involuntarily) when we are asleep or otherwise unaware of the presence of stool.

When we get an urge to go to the bathroom, we rely on our external sphincter to hold the stool until reaching a toilet, where it then relaxes to release the contents.

90,000 5 ways to improve digestion – not with medicines alone

What can make your digestion worse?

If the violations are temporary, not associated with diseases, then they can be caused by everyday factors – stress, unhealthy diet, smoking. One of the most common factors is the so-called alimentary inaccuracies, that is, food-related – fatty, fried or very spicy food, sweets, raw onions, nuts, chocolate, alcohol, large amounts of coffee, carbonated drinks.Eating “on the run” also affects, especially if it is associated with a passion for fast food. The slow rhythm of the stomach is also set by overeating – a large amount of food is more difficult to digest. And, of course, do not forget about stress – they also negatively affect the functioning of the stomach. ^1.2.5

Symptoms of temporary impairment of food digestion

• Pain, burning or discomfort in the upper abdomen.
• Feeling of a “lump” in the stomach.
• Sour belching, often with an unpleasant odor.
• Fast satiety during meals.
• Decreased appetite
• Sudden dislike for certain foods and dishes.
• Stool disorders.
• Pain or cramps in the abdomen. ^1.2.5

5 steps – what to do at the first sign of digestive problems?

The following methods to improve digestion can be used to reduce the severity of symptoms and support the digestive tract.

Identify harmful products

It is necessary to find out which of the nutritional factors could cause complaints, and exclude it from the diet.Together with him, it is worth for a while to stop eating confectionery, sweet pastries, salty, spicy, fatty, fried, smoked food. Soda, very strong coffee and tea, rich broth, sauces are not recommended – they can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa. It is better to give up smoking and drinking alcohol – at least for the period of exacerbation of digestive disorders.

Go on a diet

The menu should consist of dishes that spare the mucous membrane as much as possible: boiled, stewed without additional fat, steamed, mashed soups.It is worth eating 5-6 times a day, in small portions. This will help the digestive system to work evenly, without overloading or prolonged “hungry”
pauses. ^1.2

Increase physical activity

Poor digestion and associated discomfort lead to decreased physical activity. This affects the general tone, mood, appetite, work, study in children and adults. Therefore, no matter how difficult it is at first, you need to do physical education.

Do a set of morning or hygienic exercises, do breathing exercises.Walk more – walking can stabilize the autonomic nervous system, normalize motor skills and secretory function of the digestive tract. ³

Try to be less nervous

Any unpleasant situation causes a response of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the work of the gastrointestinal tract. In response to stimuli, it increases the production of hormones – cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine. They, in turn, affect the tone of the intestines and stomach, slowing down peristalsis and the production of beneficial enzymes.This can lead to symptoms of bad
digestion. ^2.3.7

Consult an expert on medication

There are quite a few reasons for the deterioration of digestion, therefore it is important that medicines to eliminate it act in a complex manner. This is best answered by multicomponent preparations, which include not one active ingredient, but several. They complement each other and affect the various links of the disturbed
digestion. ⁵

There are not very many similar preparations, and among them Festal® dragees can be noted. In its composition, pancreatin (enzymes of amylase, lipase, protease) is necessary for the breakdown of sugars, fats, proteins. Hemicellulase is an enzyme that promotes better fiber absorption. As well as bile acids, which normalize the secretion of bile and increase the digestion of fats.

Festal® can be used to improve digestion at:

• Lack of bile acids, eg after removal of the gallbladder.
• Conditions affecting the quantitative and qualitative composition of bile acids, for example, with biliary dyskinesia.
• Disorders in the production and secretion of bile.
• Violation of the production of enzymes by the pancreas
• Diet disorders, nutritional errors, overeating. And also in cases where chewing and digestion of food is difficult due to illness, missing teeth, trauma, bed rest, etc. ⁶

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract / Diseases / Family clinic A-Media

The science of gastroenterology and gastroenterologists are engaged in the detection, therapy and prevention of various diseases of the digestive system.Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are among the most common among the population. Almost all adults have abnormalities in the functioning of the intestines or stomach to one degree or another. This is usually due to poor quality food, poor environmental conditions, constant stress and bad habits.

What is the danger of gastrointestinal diseases

The widespread occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases often leads to permanent unpleasant manifestations. Many people gradually get used to them and start to ignore them.However, such neglect of the problem is dangerous, since in the advanced stages of the disease of the digestive system, it is much more difficult to cure. Ignoring the disease and the lack of timely access to a specialist are fraught with the transition of the disease into a chronic form. The poor condition of the digestive system and the presence of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract worsen the quality of life and metabolism, lead to the development of general malaise and decreased performance.

Self-medication with over-the-counter drugs poses an additional hazard.These drugs often block the manifestations of unpleasant symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract, but they do not solve the problem itself, which can lead to a hidden aggravation of the disease. The most correct approach to your health is to regularly visit a gastroenterologist even in the absence of any alarming symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract, because many failures in the digestive system in the early stages are hidden.

Classification

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are usually classified according to the location of the main problem, that is, on the basis of the localization of the pathological process:

• diseases of the esophagus
• diseases of the stomach
• diseases of the pancreas
• diseases of the liver and gallbladder
• diseases of the duodenum
• bowel disease.

Among the most common gastrointestinal diseases in Russia are usually noted:

• gastritis
• pancreatitis
• hepatitis
• peptic ulcer
• cholecystitis
• colitis.

Symptoms

That is why you should not engage in self-diagnosis, but contact a specialist to accurately identify the cause of unpleasant manifestations. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are usually accompanied by:

• heartburn
• pain in the abdominal region
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• nausea
• constipation.

The gastrointestinal tract is very extensive and borders on various organs. Therefore, pain in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be mistaken for problems with other body systems. For example, in women, abdominal pain can be associated with both problems in the digestive system and with malfunctions of the reproductive organs.

How we can help

A-Media Family Clinic offers its clients an integrated approach, in which a gastroenterologist works closely with doctors of related specialties to ensure high-quality diagnostics and develop the best treatment regimen, taking into account all the individual characteristics of a particular person.

Healthy lifestyle

The human digestive system performs the tasks of grinding, digesting food, assimilating nutrients and removing undigested residues from the body. In order for it to successfully realize its functions, nature has created it rather complexly arranged. Unfortunately, a large number of aggressive factors acting on the digestive organs provide their increased vulnerability to various diseases.

The structure of the human digestive system

The digestive system includes the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs.

The gastrointestinal tract begins with the oral cavity, in which the salivary glands, teeth, and tongue are located. In the mouth, food is chopped, its taste is determined, a food lump is formed and its digestion begins.

Then, through the pharynx, food enters the esophagus, through which it enters the stomach.In the stomach, digestion continues. It produces hydrochloric acid and enzymes (pepsin, chymosis, lipase), and making contractions, the walls of the stomach mix food with digestive juices.

From the stomach, the food lump enters the small intestine, which has several sections: the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum. The excretory ducts of the liver and pancreas open into the small intestine, in which, with the help of enzymes and bile, fats, carbohydrates and proteins are broken down.

The last section of the gastrointestinal tract is the large intestine, which in turn is divided into the blind, colon (ascending, transverse and descending), sigmoid and rectum. The absorption of water and nutrients continues in the large intestine, and the bacteria inhabiting this part of the intestine contribute to the complete digestion of the incoming food. Feces are formed in the large intestine. Undigested residues are excreted through the rectum.

The human digestive system includes auxiliary organs: liver, gallbladder, pancreas and salivary glands.All of them are necessary to improve the digestion of food, as they produce enzymes that break down proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Diseases of the human digestive system

Depending on the cause of the occurrence, all diseases can be divided into several large groups:

• inflammatory;
• parasitic;
• infectious;
• food poisoning by toxic compounds;
• resulting from metabolic disorders;
• autoimmune;
• tumor.

Gastrointestinal problems are also classified by location.

• Oral cavity, pharynx: stomatitis, tumors, pharyngeal diverticula.
• Esophagus: esophagitis, cancer;
• Stomach: gastritis, polyps, ulcers, esophageal reflux disease;
• Small intestine: enteritis, ulcerative lesions, tumors, autoimmune diseases;
• Colon: colitis, colon cancer, benign tumors, autoimmune diseases (ulcerative colitis, etc.).
• Liver: alcoholic, viral, toxic and other hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, cancer, cysts, hemangioma, etc.;
• Gallbladder: cholecystitis, gallstone disease, dyskinesia;
• Pancreas: pancreatitis, cysts, pancreatic tumors.

Also, diseases are divided along the course, they are acute and chronic.

Many diseases of the digestive system are similar in symptoms.It is also important to note that sometimes different disorders of the digestive tract are combined with each other. All this does not always make it easy to diagnose a person. Therefore, in order to determine the cause of anxiety, the patient must definitely consult a qualified doctor.

Diseases of the digestive system and sleep disorders

Any serious disturbance in well-being negatively affects the quality of sleep. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea make it difficult to fall asleep, and sleep intermittent and shallow.Insomnia and nightmares are also common in liver disease.

There are other situations when it is not diseases of the digestive system that cause sleep disorders, but vice versa. For example, with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome due to the appearance of respiratory stops during sleep and the disruption of the diaphragm, which occurs in this case, patients develop belching and heartburn.

Any sleep problems can be quickly and successfully solved by the specialists of the “Barvikha” sanatorium.Read more on the website.

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90,000 Prevention of diseases of the digestive system

Diseases of the digestive system are the most common and, perhaps, cause the most suffering. Note that the health of the digestive system largely depends on the lifestyle.

In the rhythm of the city, a person does not have time to eat properly and to keep track of what products he eats. And also the detrimental effect of bad habits is reflected in the digestive system, as a result of which, already at a young age, many are familiar with such a disease as gastritis.

Some of the earliest signs of digestive diseases are heartburn, yellow plaque on the tongue, recurrent abdominal pain. It is always worth remembering that minor ailments are easy to eliminate, but they can ultimately lead to more serious diseases such as ulcers and cancer. You should always monitor and promptly pay attention to the following symptoms:

– pain in the chest area, heartburn, belching with an unpleasant odor may be the first signals of the development of gastritis and ulcers;

– a violation of the intestinal microflora with further manifestations of dysbiosis may be evidenced by rumbling in the abdomen, bowel upset, heartburn and pain in the abdominal cavity;

– for the onset of the development of infectious diseases, nausea (possibly vomiting), stomach pain, gas formation are characteristic;

– inflammation of the intestinal mucosa can be judged by colic, rumbling in the abdomen and loose stools;

– frequent constipation (stool less than once a day) indicates an imbalance in nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.

The onset of symptoms is often ignored, which leads to the triggering of inflammatory processes. However, the disease is always easier to prevent than to cure, so it is worth noting the main ways to prevent gastrointestinal diseases. Proper nutrition and a measured lifestyle are the main methods of preventing serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Power supply . Meals should take place at the same time, in small portions, so as not to burden the body. You should always evaluate your energy consumption, do not overeat.

Proper cooking and storage will help avoid intestinal infections. Cooked food is best eaten warm so as not to irritate the stomach lining. A dish is considered cold at a temperature of about 10 degrees, hot – from 60 degrees Celsius.

For diseases of the stomach and intestines, the daily ration should consist of boiled or steamed food, excluding the presence of animal fats. All acidic and spicy foods should also be completely removed from the diet until complete recovery.

To maintain the functioning of the intestines and stomach in a normal state, it is necessary to completely abandon alcohol in any form.

Hygiene . The banal hand washing, which we hear about since childhood, is a powerful tool for protecting against bacteria. Daily oral hygiene is as important as fresh air.

Mode of the day. Try to avoid stress and overexertion – they can trigger the activation of an old chronic process.It is worth noting that in case of chronic diseases, it is necessary to seek medical help in time.

After taking write, you should never go to bed right away. While eating, you need to chew the food thoroughly, without being distracted by conversations.

Compliance with these simple rules will help you prevent acute diseases such as gastritis, pancreatitis, ulcers and relieve chronic forms.

Head of the X-ray department

O.N. Andrianova

90,000 Examination of the gastrointestinal tract – Medicīnas center ARS

ENDOSCOPIC EXAMINATIONS OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

ARS Diagnostic Clinic offers unique diagnostic capabilities that allow timely detection of changes in the mucous surface of the gastrointestinal tract and obtaining a tissue sample for examination. This is of great importance in the early diagnosis and treatment of neoplasms and various diseases of the digestive system.
Endoscopy room in ARS Diagnostic clinic is equipped with modern video endoscopic equipment of the latest generation Olympus EVIS EXERA III , which provides accurate diagnostics of the gastrointestinal tract, using the best world experience and the latest achievements in medical technologies.

Upper endoscopy or GASTROSCOPY

Gastroscopy is an examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. It is the most accurate method for early diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.During the procedure, an optical device is inserted through the mouth into the patient’s digestive system – a flexible tube at the end of which there is a light source and a camera. This allows you to examine in detail the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum on the monitor. The equipment allows you to multiply the obtained images for more detailed study.
More about the study GASTROSCOPY

Lower endoscopy or COLONOSCOPY

Colonoscopy is an examination of the colon and rectum.“ Gold standard ” among the methods of early diagnosis of colon cancer or colorectal cancer. The examination is performed through the anus. To perform colonoscopy, a special optical device is used – a flexible tube, at the end of which there is a light source and a camera. This allows a detailed examination of the colon mucosa on the monitor. The equipment allows you to multiply the obtained images for more detailed study. In order to make the examination more gentle on the new colonoscope, the insertion part of the endoscope has been drastically improved.This greatly facilitates the procedure for both the patient and the doctor. The endoscope is easy to operate and its high resolution and control are the main factors that allow the doctor to qualitatively assess the mucous membrane of the colon and rectum, practically preventing the possibility of missing pathological changes in the intestine. In addition, during a colonoscopy, you can perform various therapeutic manipulations, for example, remove a sample of mucous tissue for analysis, perform a polypectomy – remove polyps up to 4 mm in size., stop bleeding, etc.
More about colonoscopy

RECOMMEND:

Every person over 50 years old to perform a colonoscopic examination – diagnosis of colon and rectal cancer , so as not to miss any pathological changes at an early stage of development. Early diagnosis of bowel cancer through screening detects precancerous conditions or malignant tumors at an early stage, thus significantly increasing the rate of complete cure.

RECTOSCOPY

Rectoscopy is an examination of the rectum using a special device – a rectoscope. It is a metal tube with a light source and an optical system. This method makes it possible to ascertain inflammation of the mucous surface, hemorrhoids, cicatricial narrowing, benign and malignant tumors.

RADIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSTICS

DEFECOGRAPHY

Defecography or evacuation proctography is an X-ray examination method that allows you to visually assess the condition of the rectum and anal canal, as well as the features of emptying.Using this method, it is possible to determine pathologies such as rectocele, intussusception, rectal prolapse, enterocele, dyssynergy of the anorectal reflex (functional disorders of rectal emptying). This information cannot be obtained by other available methods of visual diagnostics.
More about defecography

DETERMINATION OF INTESTINAL TRANSIT TIME

Determination of the intestinal transit time is the determination of the time of passage of feces through the colon.X-ray examination of intestinal transit provides information about the speed of the motor function of the colon.
More about survey

IRRIGOSCOPY

Irrigoscopy is an X-ray method of examination of the colon, which allows you to evaluate the shape, size, contours of the walls of the colon. During the examination, a barium-based contrast agent is used. This method is especially effective for narrowing of the colon, as well as for the diagnosis of ulcers and formations in the colon.

VISUAL DIAGNOSTICS

Ultrasound

Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity – liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and bladder.

COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY

CT scan of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis:

• liver, gallbladder, biliary tract
• pancreas
• spleen
• adrenal glands, kidneys, urinary tract, bladder
• lymph nodes
• you can get information about the gastrointestinal tract, spine and pelvic bones, muscles, pelvic organs, the anterior wall of the abdominal cavity, etc.

More about computed tomography

MAGNETIC RESONANCE

Magnetic resonance imaging studies of the abdominal and pelvic organs:

• pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts (MR cholangiography), liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, lymph nodes,
• gynecology – uterus, ovaries,
• prostate,
• bladder,
• enterography of the small intestine,
• Colonography,
• pelvic lymph nodes.

More about MR examination

VIDEOS:

90,000 How to keep your dog’s digestive system healthy?

Effect of food on the digestive system of a dog

The food you give your dog can affect his digestion and intestinal microflora. Variety in the diet can put undue stress on the dog’s digestion and cause problems.

Dog food must be easily digestible to avoid digestive problems.In addition, it must contain essential nutrients that are well absorbed. An important component of the diet is protein, which is usually obtained from animal sources such as chicken. High quality ready-to-eat foods contain highly digestible proteins that are less likely to cause digestive disturbances. For example, wheat gluten is easily absorbed by the body and has a high protein concentration.

Fiber

Fiber is an important component of a dog’s diet, but must be balanced.Fiber can be used in the diet to regulate the passage of food in the large intestine and improve stool quality, which is especially beneficial for dogs with sensitive digestion or poor stool quality.

Fiber supports the efficient functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and helps the dog feel full after feeding. One type of fiber is prebiotics, which promote the growth and reproduction of beneficial bacteria in your dog’s body.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are an important component of a dog’s diet as they are an excellent source of energy.Sources of carbohydrates in dog food should be digestible.

Fats

Fats can be of great importance in regulating sensitive digestion in dogs. Foods that are high in fat can efficiently provide your dog with the energy they need without having to consume a lot of food. On the other hand, low fat foods can help with a dog’s stomach or sensitivity to fat in the diet.

If you notice signs of digestive problems in your dog, be sure to visit your veterinarian. He will be able to recommend a diet that will help support your pet’s digestive health.

A little about the peculiarities of the digestive system of rabbits

Rabbits are the common name of several genera of mammals from the rabbit family (including domestic rabbits) – animals with a single stomach that eat plant foods.

Their digestion is more similar to horse digestion.Diseases of the digestive system are a fairly common pathology in rabbits, resulting from improper feeding of animals, giving poor-quality feed (moldy, sour), eating disorders due to dental disease, as well as the anatomical structure of the digestive tract. Rabbits can hide signs of pain and inflammation, and they can be very difficult to notice in the early stages of the disease. Often, a seriously ill rabbit seems less active, quiet than usual, or, on the contrary, becomes aggressive.The main symptom of rabbit disease is a partial decrease or complete lack of appetite, bruxism, a change in the color, shape, size of feces or its complete absence.

Briefly about the physiology of rabbit digestion.

The digestive system in rabbits begins, like all other mammals, from the oral cavity. In the oral cavity, the food is chewed, wetted with saliva and a food coma is formed. Adults have 28 teeth, no canines. The incisors are well developed, grow constantly and wear down throughout life.To keep their length in the desired range, they must be grinded by eating food with a high content of coarse dietary fiber, which they mainly obtain from hay, grass and green plants. The incisors are used for grabbing feed, cutting grass / hay, biting off pieces of vegetables. In the absence of roughage or a low content of it in the daily diet, the rabbit exhibits excessive growth of incisors, which leads to trauma to the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, lips, and nose.

Cheek teeth are necessary for grinding feed, due to prolonged chewing of coarse fibers.With a small amount of coarse fibers in the diet or with a large amount of ready-made soft food, there is an uneven grinding of teeth, a change in the occlusive surface of the teeth, a change in bite, excessive tooth growth, etc. This is the main common cause of dental disease in rabbits, and as a result, a source of pain and discomfort.

Another peculiarity of the digestion of rabbits is that they have very poorly developed muscles of the stomach and intestines.The rabbit’s stomach has almost no muscles. It cannot contract to evacuate the food lump from the stomach into the small intestine. To do this, it is necessary to constantly add a new portion of food to the stomach in order to push the already existing mass from the stomach further along the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, rabbits should eat many small portions of food throughout the day. Fasting periods lead to a prolonged stay of food in the stomach and intestines, and as a result, food fermentation occurs, which causes intestinal hyperpneumatosis, bloating, tympania, pain, cramps.

Digestion in the rabbit occurs in the cecum – this is the cecum and in the large intestine. Cecum in rabbits, together with the large intestine, occupies more than half of the volume of the abdominal cavity. The muscular layer of the cecum allows the intestinal tract of rabbits to separate fibrous material from more easily digestible substances and divide the food ball into two types of fecal fractions, shaped fecal lumps and cecatrophs.

fecal lumps (balls, peas).

They are rounded and contain indigestible fibers.I have practically no smell. For a day, the rabbit, depending on the size, should release approximately 100-150 fecal lumps. Normally, the color can vary from light brown to dark brown, dark green. It depends on the type of feeding.

If there is a decrease in the number or changes in the shape, size of fecal peas, then this is a sign of a disease of the digestive system (gastrointestinal stasis). The cessation of their excretion, in whole or in part, is a serious symptom in which urgent veterinary attention is needed.

Cecotrophs are soft peas glued together from digested food, which are periodically excreted from a specialized section of the large intestine (cecum). Rabbits eat them directly from the anus. This is a very important part of the normal digestive process, which allows the rabbit to get the maximum amount of nutrients from its food. Cecotrophs resemble a bunch of grapes, they are brown or dark green, covered with shiny mucus and have a strong odor.If the rabbit is healthy and eating well, then the cecotrophs should not stay on the ground or stick to the rabbit’s fur.

The most common reasons for a rabbit not eating cecotrophs are obesity, toothache, paw problems, etc. If normal lumps of droppings are found among cecotrophs, then this condition can be easily distinguished from diarrhea. If the rabbit is fed a plentiful feed, rich in concentrates but low in fiber, uneaten cecotrophs can be found on the floor.

By the structure of feces, you can judge the alarming symptoms of gastrointestinal tract disease in your pet.

This is how feces look like in case of constipation in a rabbit.

Constipation (constipation) is a delayed, difficult bowel movement or complete absence of bowel movements. Feces of very small size, dense consistency, different configurations, dry. Their number is meager, reaching 1-2 pcs. in hour. This is also the first sign that a rabbit needs to be shown to a specialist immediately.

This is how feces look like when molting.

Fecal lumps of different sizes, connected by wool and thus can form “Beads”. During molting, rabbits actively lick themselves, and the wool enters the stomach. In the stomach of a rabbit, wool is not digested, but passes in transit into the intestines. During the formation of feces in the large intestine, it happens that the wool binds to the fecal lumps, and “beads” are obtained. But when there is a large amount of hair in the intestines, it can roll off and form bezoars (balls, lumps), which can cause intestinal blockage.The first symptom in this pathology is the absence of feces. This can be hazardous to the health and life of the rabbit.

Diarrhea

As a result of diarrhea, stool liquefaction occurs, the absence of formalized peas is a serious problem that requires immediate veterinary attention, since the rabbit can be seriously ill. Young rabbits are most often affected during the weaning period. There are many reasons for diarrhea, it can be caused by viral, bacterial infections, toxins that are released when infected with bacteria of the genus Clostridia, as the cause of diarrhea can be protozoa, fungal diseases, poor nutrition, etc.At the first symptoms of diarrhea, regardless of what was the first reason, do not hesitate to visit a veterinarian, as this can be detrimental to the rabbit.

Litter with helminths.

If helminths are found in the feces of a rabbit, it is necessary to seek the advice of a specialist for the appointment of adequate anthelmintic therapy.

And in conclusion. With severe pain, the rabbit grinds its teeth, the stomach is pressed to the floor, drinks a lot and shows an atypical posture for aggression.Also, due to the underdeveloped muscles of the stomach, the gag reflex cannot occur in the rabbit. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor that no harmful substances or foreign objects get into the animal’s feed. At the first sign of your rabbit’s discomfort, it is better to seek advice from a specialist,

Veterinarian of the Veterinary Center “S-Vet”

The article was prepared by the Veterinarian-exoticologist, ornithologist

Patrogina Tatyana Sergeevna

.