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gastro-/gastric = stomach | |
gut = the digestive tube |
Main digestive system functions
prehension (grasping) and mastication
(chewing) to obtain nutrients | |
digestion - breaking down nutrients into
simpler compounds | |
absorption of simple compounds through the gut
wall into the blood and lymph | |
excretion of non-usable wastes and metabolic byproducts |
Effect of diet - Animal digestive systems have adapted to the foods usually eaten by their species.
Structure of the digestive tube
Parts of the digestive system