Where Does Your Food Go?
By: Melanie Zandieh
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Digestion actually begins in the mouth, as the saliva begins to break down the food, it is chewed, it becomes lubricated, warmer, and easier to swallow and digest. The teeth and mouth work together to make each bite of food smaller and easier to swallow.
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Taste buds in your mouth help you to decide if the food tastes yummy or yucky!! After the food is swallowed, it enters the esophagus where it continues to move toward the stomach.
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The small intestine is the main site of digestion and absorption. There, the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and the small intestine itself combine juices to break down nutrients so that they can be absorbed.
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Nutrients are then absorbed into the cells, where they are used for growth, repair, and the release or storage of energy.
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Undigested food goes from the small intestine into the large intestine (colon), where it becomes concentrated, as liquid is absorbed in preparation for excretion.
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