Human digestive system the colon or large intestine. Water is absorbed here and the remaining waste matter is stored prior to defecation. Most of the digestion of food takes place in the small intestine. A major digestive organ is the stomach. Within its mucosa are millions of embedded gastric glands. Their secretions are vital to the functioning of the organ. There are many specialised cells of the GI tract. These include the various cells of the gastric glands, taste cells, pancreatic duct cells, enterocytes and microfold cells. Some parts of the digestive system are also part of the excretory system, including the large
Digestive system of humpback whales digest the chitin in the exoskeletons of krill and prey swallowed whole. The duodenal ampulla can be described as the atrium of the small intestine and is a dilated sac forming the beginning of the duodenum. The duodenum prepares many nutrients from the digested matter (chyme), for absorption, which takes place in the intestines, and is the principal site for iron absorption. Digestive system of humpback whales The digestive system of humpback whales ("Megaptera novaeangliae") is adapted to digest tiny crustaceans such as krill, plankton, and small fish (including herring and mackerel) which the whale filters from the ocean using