Anatomy

"Anatomy" is the study of body structure — how organs are arranged and how parts fit together. Videos on this topic explain the parts of the digestive system in everyday language, so you know what a Health Expert is talking about when they mention the oesophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas or colon.

Key parts of the digestive tract — in brief

• Mouth and throat — chewing and initial digestion (saliva).
• Oesophagus (food pipe) — a muscular tube that takes food to the stomach.
• Stomach — churns food and mixes it with acid and enzymes.
• Small intestine — 6-7 metres long; most digestion and nutrient absorption happens here.
• Pancreas — makes digestive enzymes and insulin.
• Liver and gallbladder — make and store bile (digests fat); liver also filters blood and processes medicines.
• Large intestine (colon) — absorbs water and minerals; forms stool.
• Rectum and anus — store and pass stool.

Knowing this broad map helps make sense of symptoms — for example, upper belly pain points to different organs from lower belly pain, and yellow eyes point to liver or bile flow. For a specific condition, the matching condition page gives a focused overview.