Digestive System

Food contains substances that the body needs to break down into more simple substances that it can use. This process is called digestion.

Mouth and Salivary Glands

  • First part of the digestion process starts without you even eating!

  • The smell of food triggers the salivary glands to produce saliva (some call it your mouth watering). The amount of saliva increases as you taste the food. Saliva is mostly made of water and it helps you to chew, taste and swallow food. It contains enzymes which start to break down the food we eat.

Our teeth tear, cut and grind food into smaller pieces and the tongue helps to mix the food with saliva.

Oesophagus

The Oesophagus is a muscular tube which forms the path from the mouth to the stomach. Muscles contract and relax to move food down the oesophagus to the stomach.

Stomach

Glands line the stomach, which produce acid and enzymes and break the food down further. The muscles in the stomach mix the food.

Liver, Pancreas and Gallbladder

The liver produces bile which helps to absorb fats. Bile is sent to the gallbladder to be stored, which then releases into the duodenum (first of the small intestine), when it is needed. The pancreas also produces enzymes to break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates, which is also sent to the duodenum.

Small Intestine

The small intestine absorbs nutrients from the food. It passes any leftover broken down food to the large intestine

Large Intestine, Rectum and Anus

The large intestines, connects the small intestine to the rectum. It absorbs water from waste food. Forms stool from waste food, which is then stored in the rectum. It makes the brain aware of the need to go to the toilet. The anus releases the stool... The end of the digestive process!

Your gut measures around 9m (30 ft) from mouth to anus, which is almost as long as a bus!