The digestive system is a group of organs working together to convert food into energy and basic nutrients to feed the entire body. It also eliminates waste products. The process involves both mechanical and chemical digestion and occurs in several stages and organs.
The digestive system works by breaking down food into smaller molecules that the body can absorb and use. It starts in the mouth, where food is chewed and mixed with saliva to begin digestion. The food then travels down the esophagus to the stomach, where it is mixed with acids and enzymes that further break it down. Next, the food moves into the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream with the help of digestive juices from the pancreas and bile from the liver. Any leftover waste passes into the large intestine, where water is absorbed, and the remaining material is formed into feces and eventually expelled from the body through the rectum and anus.