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Digestive Disorders

The digestive system, which extends from the mouth to the anus, is responsible for receiving food, breaking it down into basic components including vitamins and minerals (digestion), absorbing the nutrients into the bloodstream, and eliminating the parts of food that couldn’t be digested by the body.

The digestive tract consists of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. The digestive system also includes organs that lie outside the digestive tract: the pancreas, the liver, and the gallbladder.

Digestive disorders encompass the gastrointestinal tract as well as the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Most digestive disorders and diseases are complex, with subtle symptoms, and the causes of many remain unknown.  The range of digestive disorders includes minor symptoms of discomfort to chronic diseases, and possibly life-threatening conditions.

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