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Glite Dictionary
alimentary tract

alimentary tract

4.4
A tube in the body from the mouth to the anus that carries food and breaks it down
  • noun
  • /ˌælɪˈmɛnˌtɛri træk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tracto alimentario
  • Acceptable diagnoses included diseases of the eye, ear, skin, respiratory and alimentary tracts, kidneys, bones, and joints, or trauma.

Examples

  • Eating too quickly can cause discomfort in the alimentary tract as food travels from the mouth to the stomach.

  • Since this type of lesion can occur anywhere in the alimentary tract, long-term follow-up is recommended for all patients.

    Academic text (2007)

  • We did not detect F. perrara in any of the four sampled queen alimentary tract niches. End caption: Biological age, source, and the queen microbiota.

    Academic text (2018)

  • The doctor explained that problems in the alimentary tract can lead to serious digestive issues.

  • During the examination, the surgeon found a blockage in the alimentary tract that needed immediate attention.

Synonyms

digestive tract
vsalimentary tract
  • Specialized
11 3.4

A long tube made of muscle from the mouth to the anus that breaks down food and removes waste

focuses more on the tube's muscular nature rather than general passage
gastrointestinal tract
vsalimentary tract
  • Specialized
3 3.9

A tube in the body from the mouth to the anus where food is digested and waste leaves the body

means the same passage but uses alternate anatomical phrasing
GI tract
vsalimentary tract
  • Specialized
2 4.2

The tube in the body from the mouth to the anus that breaks down food and removes waste

has the same meaning but uses a different anatomical wording
alimentary canal
vsalimentary tract
  • Specialized
4.0

A long tube that runs from the mouth to the anus and carries food during digestion

shares meaning but reflects a slightly different traditional term
digestive tube
vsalimentary tract
  • Specialized
3.4

A tube from the mouth to the anus where food is digested and waste leaves the body

expresses the same idea but uses a different formal label

Surface Forms

alimentary tract singular
alimentary tracts plural

Morphology

alimentary + tract

The meaning 'the passage in the body through which food is digested' is directly derivable from 'alimentary' (relating to nourishment/digestion) combined with 'tract' (a bodily passage or system). This is a literal, compositional medical noun phrase (and has clear cognates in many languages), so a learner who knows both constituents should understand it.

Etymology

Alimentary tract is a name that literally means a 'food path' in the body: alimentary means 'food' and tract means a long 'path' or 'tube'. Imagine a long tube from your mouth to your anus that carries and breaks down food and sends out waste, so alimentary tract means the passage where food is digested and removed.