Which organ system includes the pancreas and salivary glands?

The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, and it includes various organs that play critical roles in this process. The pancreas and salivary glands are both integral components of this system.

The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and hormones, such as insulin, that help regulate blood sugar levels and assist in digestion. It releases these enzymes into the small intestine, aiding in the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Salivary glands, on the other hand, produce saliva, which contains enzymes that initiate the digestion of carbohydrates and also moistens food, making it easier to chew and swallow. Saliva plays a crucial role in ensuring that food can be effectively digested as it moves through the digestive tract.

Together, these organs help facilitate the chemical and mechanical processes necessary for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients, clearly placing them within the digestive system. The other systems mentioned — respiratory, nervous, and circulatory — have different functions unrelated to the direct process of digestion.