digestive system

Mouth

Where digestion begins with chewing (teeth) and saliva softens food for swallowing.

Pharynx

The passage that connects the mouth to the esophagus, allowing the movement of food and liquids towards the stomach.

Esophagus

The tube that connects the mouth to the stomach and moves food via involuntary muscle contractions called peristalsis.

Stomach

A muscular organ that squishes food using acids and enzymes.

Small intestine

A long, twisty tube where most nutrient absorption occurs, featuring folds called villi and microvilli.

Large intestine

Absorbs water and forms waste for elimination.

Liver

Produces bile to help break down lipids in the small intestine.

Gallbladder

Stores bile produced by the liver.

Pancreas

Produces enzymes that aid in digestion and regulates blood sugar levels.

Rectum

Holds waste material until it's time for elimination.

Anus

The exit where waste leaves the body.

Ingestion

The process of taking in food.

Absorption

The stage in the digestive process where nutrients from food enter the blood.

Elimination

The process of getting rid of waste material from the body.

Mechanical digestion

Physically breaks food into smaller pieces, occurring in the mouth and stomach.

Chemical digestion

Uses enzymes and acids to break food into tiny molecules, occurring in the mouth, stomach, and small intestine.

Chyme

Partially digested liquid formed in the stomach.

Bolus

A ball of food formed in the mouth to be swallowed.

Pepsinogen

An inactive form of the enzyme pepsin, used in protein digestion.

Hydrochloric acid

Acid in the stomach that activates pepsinogen to pepsin.

Duodenum

The shortest section of the small intestine, attached to the pyloric sphincter.

Jejunum

The middle segment of the small intestine, involved in nutrient absorption.

Ileum

The last section of the small intestine, where further absorption occurs.