The upper gastrointestinal tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The lower gastrointestinal tract includes the small intestine and the large intestine. Digestive juices are produced by the pancreas and the gallbladder. The small intestine includes the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

The main organs that make up the digestive system (in order of their function) are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus.

The principal functions of the gastrointestinal tract are to digest and absorb ingested nutrients and to excrete waste products of digestion.

From proximal (at the stomach) to distal, these are the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (Figure 20.8). Figure 20.8 Small Intestine The three regions of the small intestine are the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

Arrange the following in the proper order to show the correct path food takes through the digestive system: esophagus, small intestine, rectum, tongue, duodenum, stomach, large intestine, mouth, anus.

The GI tract is the pathway food takes from your mouth, through the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine. In the GI tract, nutrients and water from foods are absorbed to help keep your body healthy. Whatever isn’t absorbed keeps moving through your GI tract until you get rid of it by using the bathroom.

Food moves through the digestive system by a series of muscular contractions called peristalsis. Food enters the mouth and is digested into a bolus. The bolus travels down the esophagus by peristalsis and enters the stomach. The stomach digests the bolus into chime which is pushed into the duodenum.

Peptic ulcer disease occurs when open sores, or ulcers, form in the stomach or first part of the small intestine. Many cases of peptic ulcer disease develop because a bacterial infection eats away the protective lining of the digestive system.

How long does it take for food to move through the stomach? Four hours.

Talk with your doctor if you think you might have one of these 10 common digestive disorders.

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) and Gastritis.
• Stomach Flu.
• Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Constipation.
• Hemorrhoids.

Aging puts the body at higher risk for an assortment of health ailments and conditions. With age, many bodily functions slow down, including your digestive tract — it just might not work as efficiently or as quickly as it used to. The muscles in the digestive tract become stiffer, weaker, and less efficient.

Water flush. Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated is a great way to regulate digestion. People who support a water flush for colon cleansing recommend drinking six to eight glasses of lukewarm water per day. Also try eating plenty of foods high in water content.

The first signs of gastrointestinal issues often include one or more of these symptoms:

1. Nausea and/or vomiting.
2. Pain in the abdominal area.
3. Diarrhea.
4. Constipation.
5. Bloating.
6. Bleeding.
7. Incontinence.
8. Difficulty swallowing.

Try the following:

1. Drink fluids regularly throughout the day, especially after bouts of diarrhea.
2. Eat little and often, and include some salty foods.
3. Consume foods or drinks with potassium, such as fruit juice and bananas.
4. Don’t take any medications without asking your doctor.

Bacterial gastroenteritis will often clear up on its own without any treatment. However, vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration, so it is important to stay hydrated. This is usually possible to achieve at home by drinking plenty of fluids, especially water.

Start by eating a nutritious diethigh in fiber-rich foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. A “western” diet that’s high in fat and sugar and low in fiber can kill certain types of gut bacteria, making your microbiota less diverse.

Treatment for gastrointestinal infection includes taking antibiotics and staying hydrated. Common antibiotics used to treat gastrointestinal infection are penicillin, cephalosporin, antifolate / sulfa combinations, nitroimidazole, penem, glycopeptide, and monobactam antibiotics.