The Digestive System

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The digestive system decomposes food by breaking down food into smaller molecules that can be more easily absorbed into the bloodstream. The molecules move through the bloodstream to all of the body's cells. The molecules are then used by various parts of the body for growth, repair, and energy.

There are several parts of the digestive system. The parts of the digestive system include the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, and the large intestine.

There are two accessory organs in the digestive system. They are the liver and the pancreas, which are located outside the alimentary canal. These accessory organs add to chemical digestion by letting out digestive juices into the canal through tubes called ducts.

Food is broken down both physically and chemically. The physical breakdown is by way of the mouth. The teeth in the mouth chew the food, breaking it down into smaller pieces, making it easier for the food to be swallowed and absorbed by other body parts.

During the chemical breakdown, enzymes break into individual molecules of food to give way molecules that can be absorbed and spread throughout the body. The body's glands conceal these enzymes. Enzymes are digestive chemicals in the body.

Though the body uses most of the food you digest, it must do something with the undigested food. The large intestine carries the undigested food toward the rectum. The rectum stores the feces until removal. Feces are waste materials made mostly of undigested food, digestive juices, bacteria, and mucus. The muscles in the walls of the rectum push the feces towards the anus. When the muscles in-between the rectum and anus relax, the feces move out of the body.

The process of digestion is very interesting and complicated.