Gastrointestinal tract

The gastrointestinal tract includes all the organs involved in the taking in and digestion of food by the body. The tract contains various compartments that are specialised in carrying out the different stages of the digestion process. Whilst in the tract, food can be acted on mechanically by peristalsis carried out by the stomach or chemically by digestive enzymes such as amylase. The different processes work together to break down the food and allow the body to absorb the nutrients from it.