Science Common Sense

996 - How does the digestive system work?

The digestive system is like a long road that food travels through your body. Here's how it works:

1. Mouth: You eat food, and your teeth break it down into smaller pieces. Your tongue mixes the food with special juices that make it easier to swallow.

2. Esophagus: You swallow the food, and it goes down a long tube called the esophagus into your stomach.

3. Stomach: The stomach is like a big bag that digests the food. It's filled with strong juices that mix with the food and break it down even more.

4. Small intestine: The partially digested food goes into the small intestine. This is where most of the nutrients from the food are absorbed into your bloodstream.

5. Large intestine: Whatever is left of the food goes into the large intestine, also called the colon. The colon absorbs water and any leftover nutrients from the food.

6. Waste removal: The waste from the food comes out of your body as poop when you go to the bathroom.