By the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:
Define tissue, organ, and organ system.
List some characteristics of the 12 organ systems and outline a role for each related to nutrition, especially the cardiovascular system, endocrine system, nervous system, immune system, and urinary system.
Outline the overall processes of digestion and absorption, including the roles played by the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and the related accessory organs: liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
Become familiar with some specific enzymes and hormones that act in digestion of the various nutrient groups.
Identify the major nutrition-related gastrointestinal health problems and typical approaches to treatment.
