Nutrition - The Digestive System
What happens to the food you eat? How does your body take the nutrients from food and use it? The process by which the body breaks down food into nutrient molecules that your cells use is called digestion. The function of the digestive system is to break down food, absorb nutrients into the blood stream, and eliminate waste materials.
Use your mouse to roll over the body parts to learn what happens to the food you eat.
1. Mouth
Digestion begins in your mouth. Teeth tear and cut food into smaller pieces. Saliva contains enzymes to help break down food.
Digestion begins in your mouth. Teeth tear and cut food into smaller pieces. Saliva contains enzymes to help break down food.
2. Esophagus
After you swallow, food goes down your esophagus to your stomach. The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.
After you swallow, food goes down your esophagus to your stomach. The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.
3. Stomach
The stomach is a muscular organ that churns food. The stomach has enzymes and hydrochloric acid to help to further break down food. Food leaves the stomach as a liquid called chyme.
The stomach is a muscular organ that churns food. The stomach has enzymes and hydrochloric acid to help to further break down food. Food leaves the stomach as a liquid called chyme.
4. Gallbladder & Pancreas
The gallbladder and pancreas release enzymes into the small intestine to aid in digestion.
The gallbladder and pancreas release enzymes into the small intestine to aid in digestion.
5. Small Intestine
The small intestines absorbs nutrients from food using finger-like structures called villi. The nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream.
The small intestines absorbs nutrients from food using finger-like structures called villi. The nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream.
6. Large Intestine
Material moves from the small intestine into the large intestine. The main function of the large intestine is to absorb water that the body needs.
Material moves from the small intestine into the large intestine. The main function of the large intestine is to absorb water that the body needs.
7. Rectum
Water is absorbed in the large intestine, and the remaining material is removed as solid waste or feces. It is removed out of the body from the end of the larger intestine, the rectum.
Water is absorbed in the large intestine, and the remaining material is removed as solid waste or feces. It is removed out of the body from the end of the larger intestine, the rectum.