The gastrointestinal tract is a soft tissue tube in the human body that processes and eliminates nutrition. It is composed of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts and includes the small and large intestines. Common problems can be controlled with a healthy diet, but long-term issues require medical attention.
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the soft tissue tube in the human body starting at the mouth and ending at the anus, through which all nutrition passes, is processed and eliminated. Digestion is the primary function of the tract and is accomplished through muscle movement and the release of enzymes and hormones. The entire gastrointestinal tract of an adult human averages 20 to 25 feet (6.1 to 7.6 m) long and is composed of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts. Another term used for the gastrointestinal tract is the alimentary canal.
Any part of the tract above the duodenum is considered part of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The upper gastrointestinal tract includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, and stomach; the lower gastrointestinal tract includes the small intestine, large intestine or colon, rectum, and anus. While the liver, gallbladder and pancreas help the body in its digestive processing functions, they are not considered part of the true gastrointestinal tract.
The small intestine is typically about 20 feet (about 6 m) long and includes the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, leading to the large intestine. It is in the duodenum that the main chemical digestion of food takes place. At the ligament of Trietz the duodenum ends and the jejunum begins. The purpose of fasting is to extract and absorb nutrients through both active and passive transport mechanisms. When the nutrition reaches the ileum, it has far fewer nutrients to extract and passes to the lower gastrointestinal tract at a faster rate.
The large intestine works by receiving undigested food and removing water from it so that the food forms solid waste that can be passed out as fecal matter. A large intestine is usually about 5 feet (about 1.5 m) long and includes the cecum, colon, rectum, and anus. There are more than 700 species of bacteria in the large intestine. The main purposes of the large intestine are to produce vitamins for blood absorption, neutralize the acidity caused by the formation of fatty acids, produce antibodies, strengthen the autoimmune system, and eliminate waste substances from the rectum through the anus.
Some common problems – such as simple indigestion, gastritis, constipation or diarrhea – can often be controlled and cured through a healthy diet high in fiber and low in sugar. Other long-term gastrointestinal problems – such as Crohn’s disease, appendicitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), duodenal ulcers, viral infections and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – should not be ignored as they typically require medical attention and care. Gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal specialists are physicians who should usually be consulted regarding disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
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