What is the Digestive System?

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 6/6/2002
The digestive system is divided into regions that specialize in the process of digestion. The tract is primarily composed of a layer of cells, that secrete digestive juices and mucous as well as absorb nutrients, surrounded by muscle. It includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. We'll describe the digestive process in detail.

How the Liver Works

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 3/13/2002
The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body. Our largest organ, the liver is located in a central position of the abdomen, and is intimately involved in almost every aspect of the body's processes. Because of its central role, liver disease strikes at the very heart of the body's functions and processes - and can be extremely life-threatening. You cannot live without a liver. We cover in detail the functions of the liver.

The Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 6/25/2004
I often tell my patients that the gastrointestinal tract is much like a carburetor in a car. Your digestive tract tract must take gasoline (your food), and then mix it with air (enzymes and other digestive juices). If this mixing process goes well, your car runs and doesn't cough or sputter. How efficiently your fuel burns determines to a large extent how many years you're going to get out of your car. Although a rather crude analogy, this principle does hold true for the human digestive tract. There are many points along the digestive where some "burning" process can go awry and cause seemingly unrelated problems elsewhere in the body. This article will discuss those various places and give you a very good detail of what can go wrong.

The Esophagus

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 6/6/2002
The esophagus is a muscular tube about nine and a half inches long, that is lined with soft moist tissue, called mucosa. This mucosa is pink and moist and appears very much like the inside of our cheek. The mucosa, which lines the esophagus and most of the digestive tract, allows for easy movement of food through the tract. It also helps to protect the digestive tract from the acids and enzymes that are produced to convert food into small molecules.

The Gallbladder

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 6/20/2003
The gall bladder is a hollow organ that lies directly under and abutting the liver. It is connected to the liver and upper portion part of the small intestine via a duct system. The gall bladder's purpose is to collect and store bile from the activities of the liver then release it at the appropriate time into the small intestine. It is a muscular organ, contracting during the first part of digestion. Ingesting especially fatty meals can increase the intensity of the contraction.

The Large Intestine

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 6/20/2003
The large intestine serves as a reservoir for the liquids emptied into it, through the ileocecal valve, from the small intestine. It has a much larger diameter than the small intestine.

The Liver

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 6/19/2003
The liver is the largest gland in the vertebrate body, composed of a spongy mass of wedge-shaped lobes that has many metabolic and secretory functions. It is a reddish-brown in color and is located in the upper right part of the abdominal cavity extending 3-4 inches to the left of the midline. It weighs about three pounds and is approximately 3-5% fat. It performs over 500 functions.

The Pancreas

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 6/20/2003
In humans the pancreas weighs approximately 80 grams, has roughly the configuration of an inverted smoker's pipe, and is situated in the upper abdomen. The head of the pancreas (equivalent to the bowl of the pipe) is immediately adjacent to the duodenum, while its body and tail extend across the midline nearly to the spleen. The bulk of pancreatic tissue is devoted to its exocrine function, the elaboration of digestive enzymes that are secreted via the pancreatic ducts into the duodenum.

The Salivary Glands

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 8/19/2003
Besides the many minute glands that secrete saliva, there are three major pairs of salivary glands: the parotid, the submandibular, and the sublingual glands.

The Small Intestine

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 6/20/2003
The small intestine is the largest part of the gastrointestinal tract and is composed of the duodenum which is about one foot long, the jejunum (5-8 feet long), and the ileum (16-20 feet long).

The Stomach

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 6/20/2003
The stomach is a hollow and muscular organ whose interior surface consists of a series of expandable folds, called rugae. The rugae allow the stomach to expand and contract in relation to the volume of food and fluid. Although rarely necessary, the stomach can expand to a capacity of seven liters! The stomach functions to mix, store, and begin digestion of food.

The Teeth

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 5/24/2002
The teeth are hard white structures found in the mouth of humans and many other animals and usually are used for mastication. We discuss the structures that are involved in the first part of digestion.

The Vaginosis Profile

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 6/24/2004
The Vaginosis Profile from Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory is one of the most comprehensive evaluations available. It features microscopy for every sort of organism by trained and experienced technicians with an advanced DNA probe for the most common causes of the condition. With a rapid, semiautomated DNA probe test to definitively identify clinically significant levels of Gardnerella, and Trichomonas, detection rates for these organisms can reach levels of 90% and greater in properly transported specimens.