Digestion is the process of breaking down foods into nutrients so they can be absorbed by the body.
The human digestive system (otherwise known as the gut or gastrointestinal tract)can be thought of as one continuous tube about 7 to 8 meters long that consists of the mouth, the throat (pharynx), the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, the large intestine and finally the rectum. Each part of the digestive system has a specialised role in breaking down and absorbing the foods and fluids we ingest each day and eliminating what we do not need.
To learn about the digestive tract, follow the links below:
| Mouth | Stomach | Small Intestines | Large Intestines |
|---|---|---|---|
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Digestion begins in the mouth. When we chew food into smaller pieces and it is mixed with saliva it begins to dissolve and makes it easy for us to swallow. ...read more |
Once food is swallowed, it is carried down the oesophagus to the stomach where it is churned by movement of the stomach walls to ensure it is mixed with ... ...read more |
...read more |
Digestion is the process of breaking down foods into nutrients so they can be absorbed by the body.The human digestive system (otherwise known as ... ...read more |