Gi Tract Flashcards, test questions and answers
Discover flashcards, test exam answers, and assignments to help you learn more about Gi Tract and other subjects. Don’t miss the chance to use them for more effective college education. Use our database of questions and answers on Gi Tract and get quick solutions for your test.
What is Gi Tract?
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an important organ system in the body, responsible for digesting and absorbing food. The GI tract is composed of several organs that work together to break down food into its nutrient components and allow them to be absorbed by the body. It begins with the mouth, where food is chewed and broken down with saliva before being swallowed. From there, it travels through the esophagus to the stomach where further digestion occurs with acidic juices. The next stop is the small intestine, where most of the absorption of nutrients takes place. After this, food passes through to the large intestine before exiting as waste via the rectum and anus. In addition to processing nutrients from foods, the GI tract also plays a role in controlling hunger hormones and helping regulate metabolism. This makes it an important component when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight if needed. Additionally, research has shown that an unhealthy gut can be linked to diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and cancer; which highlights how important proper nutrition and digestive health are in order to maintain overall wellbeing. A healthy diet rich in fiber can help keep your GI tract functioning properly by aiding digestion and providing food for beneficial bacteria living in your gut microbiome this helps keep bad bacteria at bay while encouraging healthy growth of good bacteria which aids digestion even more. Additionally supplementing with probiotics may also help balance out any dysbiosis (imbalance) within your gut microbiome caused by unhealthy diets or antibiotic use amongst other things; restoring balance so that you can maintain optimal digestive health.