The Digestive System Part 2: Accessory Organs

In my previous post, we talked about the first part of the digestive system. This was called the gastrointestinal tract. In this post we will talk about the second part of the digestive system. The second part of the digestive system is called the accessory organs. Accessory organs are organs that help with digestion but are not a part of the gastrointestinal tract.

Here is a helpful equation to remember the digestive system:
Gastrointestinal tract+Accessory Organs= Digestive System

The accessory organs include the tongue and the salivary glands. Other accessory organs include
1. The pancreas: The pancreas sends help to break down fat, carbohydrates, and protein in the small intestine. The help that is sent are called enzymes.
2. The liver: The liver also sends help to break down fat in the small intestine. The help is called bile.
3. Gallbladder: The gallbladder is a holding place for bile until it needs to go to the small intestine. 

As you can see, there are many accessory organs that effect our digestive system. My next post will recap the digestive system and then we will talk about the role of a registered dietitian in the treatment of digestive diseases. 

See you all in the next post.