The digestive system is responsible for digesting the food we eat, making it suitable so that it can be first absorbed and then assimilated. Includes the digestive tract and associated glands. The digestive tract is a long tube that extends from the mouth, which is an entrance hole, to the anus, which is the terminal or exit hole for the residues of digestion. The digestive tract includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Finally, all the digested nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal walls and are transported throughout the body. The waste products of this process include undigested parts of the food, known as fiber, and old cells that have been shed from the mucosa. These materials are propelled into the colon, where they remain until fecal matter is expelled during bowel movements. The foods and beverages we consume must be broken down into smaller nutrient molecules before being absorbed into the blood and transported to cells throughout the body. Digestion is the process by which foods and beverages are broken down into their smallest parts so that the body can use them for energy, and to build and feed cells. The stomach must perform three mechanical tasks. First, store food and fluids ingested. To do this, the upper stomach muscle must relax and accept large volumes of ingested material. The second task is to mix the food, liquids, and digestive juices produced by the stomach. The muscular action of the lower part of the stomach takes care of this. The third task of the stomach is to slowly empty its contents into the small intestine.
Finally, all digested nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal walls and transported throughout the body. The waste products of this process include undigested parts of the food, known as fiber, and old cells that have been shed from the mucosa. These materials are propelled into the colon, where they remain until fecal matter is expelled during bowel movements.
