How does the digestive system break down food?

The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food into components that can be absorbed and used by the body. This process begins in the mouth, where food is chewed and mixed with saliva, which contains enzymes that begin to break down carbohydrates. The food is then swallowed and travels down the esophagus to the stomach.

The stomach is a muscular organ that churns the food and mixes it with gastric juices, which contain hydrochloric acid and enzymes that further break down proteins and carbohydrates. The food is then passed to the small intestine, where it is further broken down by enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver. The small intestine is lined with villi, which are small finger-like projections that increase the surface area of the intestine and help to absorb nutrients.

Once the nutrients have been absorbed, the remaining waste products are passed to the large intestine, where water is absorbed and the waste is formed into feces. The feces are then expelled from the body through the rectum.

The digestive system is a complex and efficient system that allows the body to extract the nutrients it needs from food and discard the waste products.