What parts of the body do you use to bring in and digest food?

Parts of the body involved in bringing in and digesting food:

1. Mouth:

- Teeth: Break down food into smaller pieces through chewing.

- Tongue: Mixes food with saliva and aids in swallowing.

- Salivary glands: Produce saliva that begins the chemical digestion of carbohydrates.

2. Esophagus:

- Transports food from the mouth to the stomach through rhythmic muscle contractions called peristalsis.

3. Stomach:

- Secretes gastric juices containing hydrochloric acid and enzymes (e.g., pepsin) that further break down food and begin protein digestion.

- Churns and mixes the food to facilitate digestion.

4. Small Intestine:

- Receives partially digested food from the stomach.

- Pancreas secretes pancreatic juices, including enzymes (such as amylase, lipase, and proteases) that further break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

- Bile, produced by the liver, emulsifies fats, making them easier to digest.

- The walls of the small intestine absorb the digested nutrients into the bloodstream.

5. Large Intestine (Colon):

- Absorbs water and electrolytes from the undigested material.

- Beneficial bacteria in the colon help break down certain dietary components and produce vitamins.

- Stores waste material and forms stools.

6. Rectum and Anus:

- The rectum stores solid waste until it is expelled through the anus during defecation.