Learn more about how your digestive system works and how it performs the essential task of breaking down and absorbing the food and fluids you consume each day.

Overview The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal tract-mouth, esophagus, stomach, small & large intestine, and rectum.

Jan 11, 2022 · Your vagal nerves play key roles in helping your body manage involuntary functions like heart rate, breathing and digestion. Damage to your vagal nerves can cause digestive problems like …

Your anus is the end of your large intestine, where food waste completes its journey through your digestive tract and makes its exit. Muscles, nerves and mucous membranes in your anus work …

Your parasympathetic nervous system is a network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger. It also helps run life-sustaining processes, like digestion, during times when you …

Your small intestine (small bowel) is an organ in your gastrointestinal tract and is part of your digestive system. It breaks down food and fluid to absorb nutrients and water.

Your gut and brain are in constant contact through a complex network of nerves and chemical signals that pass both ways. Here's what to know about the gut-brain connection.

Sep 4, 2025 · What is the mesentery? The mesentery is a fold of tissue inside your abdomen. It connects your intestines to the back wall of your belly and attaches to organs like your liver, spleen …

Mar 3, 2023 · Your rectum is an important bridge between your digestive process and the defecation process. Your colon at one end and your anus at the other end may affect, or be affected by, your …

Jan 30, 2025 · A note from Cleveland Clinic Smooth muscle tissue is a part of every major body system. From your airway muscles to the zonule fibers that focus your eyes, smooth muscle is working …