SCIENCE

Food starts its journey from the mouth or the oral cavity. There are many other organs that contribute to the digestion process, including teeth, salivary glands, and tongue. Teeth are designed for grinding food particles into small pieces and are moistened with saliva before the tongue pushes the food into the pharynx.

A fibromuscular y-shaped tube attached to the terminal end of the mouth. It is mainly involved in the passage of chewed/crushed food from the mouth through the esophagus. It also has a major part in the respiratory system, as air travels through the pharynx from the nasal cavity on its way to the lungs.

This is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx, which is a part of an upper section of the gastrointestinal tract. Located in your throat near your trachea (windpipe)

A series of muscular contractions within the esophagus

It serves as a muscular bag which is situated towards the left side of the abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm.

It is an aqueous secretion produced by the mucous membranes. It functions by protecting the stomach lining and gastric pits from the acid, which is produced by the glands to destroy the bacteria that entered along with the food particles.

It is the digestive fluid formed by the stomach during the process of digestion. It functions by destroying harmful microorganisms present in the food particles.

They are the group of enzymes which functions by breaking down polymeric macromolecules like biopolymers into their smaller and simpler substances.

Made up of three segments – the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

It is responsible for processing waste so that emptying the bowels is easy and convenient. It’s a 6-foot long muscular tube that connects the small intestine to the rectum.

Waste products are passed into the end of the large intestine called the ______and eliminated out of the body as a solid matter called stool.

Is the last part of the digestive tract. It is a 2-inch long canal consisting of the pelvic floor muscles and the two anal sphincters (internal and external).

These are organs which participate in the digestion process but are not actually a part of GIT. They stimulate the digestion by releasing certain enzymes that help in breaking down the food.

This accessory organ secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum that break down protein, fats and carbohydrates. The pancreas also makes insulin, passing it directly into the bloodstream. Insulin is the chief hormone in your body for metabolizing sugar.

This accessory organ has many functions, but main job within the digestive system is to process the nutrients absorbed from the small intestine. This accessory organ also secretes bile.

This accessory organ stores and concentrates bile from the liver, and then releases it into the duodenum in the small intestine to help absorb and digest fats.

The very first step involves mastication (chewing). The salivary glands, along with the tongue, helps to moisten and lubricate food, before being pushed down into the food pipe.

It involves the process of lubricating and manipulating food and pushing it down the food through the food pipe (using peristalsis), and into the stomach.

The stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas secrete enzymes and acids to aid the process of digestion. It functions by breaking down food particles into simple components and easily absorbable components.

The process of converting complex food particles into simpler substances in the presence of enzymes and acids secreted by different digestive organs.

This process begins in the small intestine where most of the nutrients and minerals are absorbed. The excess water in the indigestible matter is absorbed by the large intestines.

The process of removing indigestible substances and waste by-products from the body through the process of defecation.

This disease is described as open sores that develop on the inside lining of your stomach and the upper portion of your small intestine. The most common symptom being stomach pain.

Also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), is the backward flow of stomach acid into the tube that connects your throat to your stomach (esophagus).