How the Urinary and Digestive Systems Work Together to Maintain Homeostasis The digestive system works to bring nutrients into the body with a series of hollow organs working together extending from the mouth to the anus. These hollow organs are the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. These hollow organs make up the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is aided by four accessory organs, the salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. (Johnson)
There are five basic processes of the digestive system. These processes are motility, secretion, digestion, absorption, and excretion. Motility is the mechanical processing and movement of food taken into the body. Chewing breaks food into smaller pieces, and two types of movement mix the contents of the lumen and propel it forward. The lumen is the inside lining of the GI tract. Secretion is the fluid, digestive enzymes, acid, alkali, bile, and mucus that are secreted into the GI tract at various places. Digestion is where the contents of the lumen are broken down mechanically and chemically into smaller and smaller particles, culminating in nutrient molecules. Absorption is what happens when the nutrient molecules pass across the GI tract and into the blood. Elimination is all of the undigested material is eliminated from the body through the anus. (Johnson)
These GI tract and the four accessory organs of the digestive tract work together to
References: Johnson, Michael D. Human Biology: Concepts and Current Issues-sixth edition. Pearson Education. 2012. Print. Marieb, Elaine Nicpone. Essentials oh Human Anatomy and Physiology-tenth edition. Pearson Education. 2012. Print.