Digestive System Diseases. Because digestive system anatomy and functions are so complicated, many health conditions can affect it. They range from short-term, minor issues to long-lasting ...

Food on the plate must be converted into a mashed-up, gooey liquid for the digestive system to be able to split it up into its constituent parts: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

As the longest portion of your digestive system, the small intestine is three to five meters long. It plays a key role in digestion and is responsible for breaking down food, removing waste, and ...