The Digestive System

Main function : The taking in of food and breaking it down into usable nutrients.

There are 2 types of digestion:

1. Mechanical digestion takes place in the mouth where the teeth and tongue physically break food into smaller pieces.

2. Chemical digestion uses enzymes to chemically break down larger organic molecules into smaller, simpler molecules that can be used by the cells. This process starts in the mouth with saliva however, most chemical digestion occurs in the small intestine. In the small intestine, enzymes from the pancreas and bile made by the liver and stored in the gall bladder are added to the food.

Pathway of the Digestive System: Mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus