The Facts on File Illustrated Guide to the Human Body: Digestive System

This book is a concise, illustrated guide to the anatomy, physiology, well-being, and disorders of the human digestive system. It has been written and illustrated specially for students and laypeople interested in medicine, health, fitness, and first aid. The subject is dealt with in clear steps, so that the reader can steadily acquire a good overall understanding. Explanatory texts, diagrams, illustrations, captions, and fact boxes are combined to help readers grasp important information at a glance. A glossary of scientific and jargon words defines medical terms in everyday language. A list of Web sites provides links to other relevant sources of information, and the index enables quick access to articles.

There are six sections within the book. The first section surveys the digestive system and outlines the process of digestion. The second section looks at food and the body’s needs for nutrients. Sections 3 and 4 focus on the components of the digestive tract, and section 5 deals with organs linked with digestion. The last section describes the urinary system, which works in conjunction with the digestive system. Within each section, discussion and illustration of the structure and function of the anatomical parts are followed by principles of healthcare, fitness, and exercise. These are followed by a survey of the main disorders and diseases affecting the region. Information is presented as doublepage topics arranged in subsections.