Gastrointestinal Anatomy & Physiology
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is commonly referred to as the “gut” or the digestive tract. It is essentially a long tube surrounded by smooth muscle and lined by cells and glands embedded in a mucosal membrane.
The job of the gut is to ingest food through the mouth where it is eventually digested, absorbed into the blood stream. The excess by waste products produced after these processes are then excreted out of the body through the anal canal.
There are numerous organs of digestion- the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and anus that all lie within the tube and three organs of digestion that lie inside the body, outside the tube, namely the gallbladder, liver and pancreas.
The gut is essentially lined by a single row of columnar cells that serve two basic functions: 1) as the gate keepers, allowing nutrients to enter into the body, and 2) as an impermeable barrier to keep toxins out. This is important because a disruption in this simple barrier is suggested to be the root cause of many chronic diseases.
Dysfunction of the digestive system is one of the major underlying causes of many chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis, allergies, and mood disorders amongst others.
At the root of these diseases are imbalances in nutrition, digestion, absorption, bacterial disruption and intestinal permeability that all play a role in the function of the gastrointestinal tract and the health of the entire body.
Please take the time to click on the individual GI issues listed under this section.
We take pride in healing the Gut here at the DaSilva Institute and know that, if you suffer from any chronic condition, whether directly or indirectly GI related we can help.
For More Information Contact Us
To schedule an appointment at the DaSilva Institute, contact a Patient Services Representative at (888) 832-7458 or click Become a New Patient.
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