The Digestive System

The digestive process stars in the mouth. Saliva moistens food and has an enzyme that breaks down starch.

The esophagus transports material between the mouth and the stomach - in both directions.

The stomach‘s muscles mix the food and liquid with digestive juices (digestive enzymes) to break it down and empties into the small intestine.

The small intestine further breaks down food and absorbs the nutrients so they can be used by the body. It passes waste to the large intestine which is actually smaller, despite its name.

Waste including unditested food, fluid, and older cells is processed in the large intestine which changes the waste from liquid to solid through water absorption. 

Waste is passed through the colon where it is converted from liquid to solid. The rectum stores the solid stool (waste) until the brain instructs it to be released through the anus.