How does the digestive system interact with other systems?

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All living organisms need energy in order to survive. Without a constant source of energy to replace expended energy, organisms will eventually die. Plants, for example, gain their energy from the sun which they then convert into food. They also absorb carbon dioxide and convert it into oxygen.

Human beings cannot convert the sun’s energy into food. Humans and most animals depend on other sources and methods of taking in energy and converting it into a form that their bodies can use. This conversion provides the energy humans and animals need to allow for the performance of daily activities and for growth.

The digestive system’s most basic functioning is well known. Food in one form or another is consumed. It passes into the stomach where it undergoes a chemical process that converts it into the energy the body requires. Excess energy is stored as fatty tissue. Waste products that the body cannot utilize are expelled.

However, the digestive system is a very complicated network that interacts with many other systems and organs within the body. It is this interaction that gives the body the ability to convert food to energy and to fuel itself efficiently. The digestive system alone consists of some 28 organs, each with a specific task to perform in the process of turning food into usable energy. These organs include the stomach, the intestines and the pancreas. But the digestive system also encompasses many lesser known organs such as the caecum, the levatorani muscle, the superior mesenteric vein and others.

A number of other organs and systems in the body work in cooperation with the digestive system to optimize the energy-producing process. These same organs and systems also rely on the digestive system to provide them with energy.

The circulatory or cardiovascular system plays a critical role in digestion. The digestive system produces compounds that are absorbed by the body’s cells. These cells are carried through the body by the circulatory system, which acts as a delivery service. It provides energy packages to all of the bodies’ organs and systems.

The muscular system is also involved in digestion. Jaw muscles power the mastication process that initiates the entire process, preparing the food for its absorption by the body. Additional muscles move the food through the digestive tract into the stomach. Other muscles serve to move the material along its journey until waste products are finally eliminated.

The skeletal system includes teeth, which are essential in the conversion process. Teeth are the tools that grind the food into the manageable substance that the digestive system can process. Additionally, the skeletal system covers and protects some of the digestive system’s organs.

The lymphatic system plays a vital role in the body’s ability to absorb and store fats, an essential element of its energy needs. The endocrine system produces hormones that are critical for the proper functioning of the digestive system. Finally the reproductive system depends on an adequate supply of nutrients in order to operate with efficiency and thus ensure the continuation of the species.

Resource by Will

I am the editor for TheFreeResource.com, and owner of LinchpinSEO, a small business content creation company. The Free Resource has a select community of talented writers, teachers, and business people (and we are always looking for more) that bring you the most trusted resources on the web and credible articles about many topics.

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