Summary: Your gastrointestinal system conducts the critical function of digestion, letting you absorb nutrients from food and ridding your body of the waste.
In order to break down and properly utilize the food you eat, your body has a very important system referred to as the digestive tract. At Austin Gastroenterology, we specialize in the wellness and maintenance of this important body system. Our wish is to help you become more in tune with your gastrointestinal health, and our experts treat a broad variety of gastrointestinal conditions and diseases. If you’re seeking a GI doctor in Austin, TX, then our team can put you in touch with digestive health specialists in your community. We welcome you to read on to find out more about the gastrointestinal tract and its importance to your health.
What is the digestive system?
Your digestive system consists of a sequence of connected organs that transport and digest the food items you eat. Thanks to chemical and mechanical digestive factors, these bodily organs break down food into its most basic parts so that your body is able to take in the nutrients it relies on and expel the remaining waste products. The GI system consists of hollow organs, such as the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, and large bowel, that hold and propel food through your body. Also considered part of the intestinal system are the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. These organs hold and produce digestive juices and enzymes, along with performing other responsibilities.
What are the parts of the gastrointestinal system?
The intestinal tract is made up of multiple components that all work together to conduct the important function of digesting food. In order of function, the organs of the GI tract include:
- Oral Cavity: The primary portion of the digestive tract, the mouth is where mechanical and chemical digestion starts. We mechanically break food down into smaller bites by chewing, and our saliva starts the chemical part of digestive function.
- Esophagus: When food has been reduced into smaller bites, it finds its way to our stomach by passing through the esophagus. The esophagus makes a series of muscular contractions as you swallow, pushing food to the next portion of digestion.
- Stomach: The stomach is a chamber housed in the upper part of the abdomen, which is where food is collected and mixed with enzymes and acid that propagate the chemical digestive process.
- Pancreas: The pancreas generates enzymes that break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, and creates insulin, a hormone that helps you process sugar.
- Gallbladder: The critical digestive chemical referred to as bile is stored in the gallbladder.
- Liver: The liver carries out a variety of digestive functions, including the creation of bile and the decomposition of toxins.
- Small Bowel: The small bowel completes the process of breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, and the broken-down nutrients are absorbed into the blood.
- Large Bowel/Appendix/Colon: In the large intestine, fluids are extracted from the processed food and the remnants prepared to evacuate the body in the form of stool.
- Rectum: The rectum is a compartment located at the end of the large intestine that holds stool until it is ready to be emptied.
- Anus: Found at the very end of the intestinal system, the anus is made up of sphincter muscles that assist in managing the evacuation of stool.
A clinician who diagnoses, treats, and helps manage conditions of the intestinal tract is known as a gastroenterologist or GI doctor. Patients can connect with a gastrointestinal doctor in Austin, TX through Austin Gastroenterology, a physician-led group of board-certified specialists.
What makes the gastrointestinal tract so essential?
The components that comprise your intestinal tract function to help the body digest and utilize vital nourishment from the food you consume. These nutrients are then transformed to give you energy, aid in growth and development, and repair your cells. The processed food remaining after the digestion process is then eliminated from the body as waste. If you are impacted by gastrointestinal conditions, your ability to break down food and evacuate stool properly may be impaired, which can significantly impact your overall health and wellness.
When should you visit a GI specialist in Austin, TX?
In the event you’re having concerning issues related to your GI system, like ongoing heartburn, constipation or diarrhea, bloody stools, or abdominal distress, we encourage you to meet with a GI doctor at Austin Gastroenterology. Our physicians in Austin, TX place our patients’ health first, using state-of-the-art treatments and technologies to maintain your intestinal wellness. Should you experience any GI symptoms, need a colorectal cancer screening, or want to find out more about how to protect your intestinal health, visit Austin Gastroenterology to receive the cutting-edge care you need.
