Know Your Gastrointestinal Tract

Terms You Should Know

Absorption: The process of passing of nutrients from the intestine into the blood stream.

Anus: Opening at the end of the rectum that allows solid waste to be eliminated

Colon: The large intestine.

Digestion: The process of breaking down of food into its simple chemical compounds so that it can be absorbed.

Duodenum: The first portion of the small intestine.

Ileum: The last portion of the small intestine that connects to the large intestine.

Immune System: The body's natural defense system that fights disease.

Inflammation: A response to tissue injury that causes redness, swelling, and pain.

Jejunum: The middle portion of the small intestine.

Large Intestine: Also known as the colon.

Rectum: Lowest portion of the colon.

Small Intestine: The organ that connects the stomach to the large intestine and absorbs nutrients.