Which of the following is not a standard term used to name the digestive tract?

Which of the following is not a standard term used to name the digestive tract?

• A. Alimentary canal
• B. Digestive tract
• C. Excretory tract
• D. Gastrointestinal tract

Answer: (C)

The term used to name the digestive tract is any name that describes the tube from mouth to anus involved in digestion and absorption. The alimentary canal and gastrointestinal tract are standard, widely used names for this pathway, and the phrase digestive tract is a common everyday descriptor as well. The excretory tract, however, belongs to the system that eliminates metabolic wastes from the body and is not a standard designation for the digestive tract. It would be misleading to call the digestive pathway an excretory tract, so that term is not used to name the digestive tract.

The term used to name the digestive tract is any name that describes the tube from mouth to anus involved in digestion and absorption. The alimentary canal and gastrointestinal tract are standard, widely used names for this pathway, and the phrase digestive tract is a common everyday descriptor as well. The excretory tract, however, belongs to the system that eliminates metabolic wastes from the body and is not a standard designation for the digestive tract. It would be misleading to call the digestive pathway an excretory tract, so that term is not used to name the digestive tract.