Food’s Journey Through the Digestive System

Have you ever questioned what happens to the food you consume? Prepare yourself for a thrilling voyage as we go through your digestive system! We’ll look at the remarkable mechanism through which your body converts food into energy.

The Mouth – Where It All Begins

The first stop on our food journey is the mouth. When you take a bite of your favorite snack, your teeth begin breaking it down into smaller pieces. Your tongue helps move the food around and mixes it with saliva, which contains special enzymes that break down carbohydrates. This makes the food easier to digest.

The Esophagus – The Food Slide

It’s time to move on to the next phase after chewing your food. Visit the esophagus, a lengthy tube that transports food from your mouth to your stomach. Peristalsis, or the contraction and relaxation of certain muscles, occurs as you swallow. The food gets pushed down as a result. For your meal, it’s like an exhilarating rollercoaster ride!

The Stomach – The Food Mixer

The stomach is our next stop. It functions much like a blender. The stomach further breaks down the meal by combining it with stomach acid and certain enzymes. The meal is mixed and churned by the stomach muscles into a viscous fluid known as chyme.

The Small Intestine – The Food Absorber

Now, we arrive at the small intestine, a long and vital organ in our digestive system. It’s like a bustling marketplace where all the action happens! The chyme from the stomach enters the small intestine, and here, tiny finger-like projections called villi line the walls. They eagerly wait to absorb the essential nutrients. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals are all on the menu!

The Large Intestine – The Water Absorber

As we near the end of our journey, we encounter the large intestine. It’s a wider tube that helps remove the water from the undigested food. The large intestine also contains millions of helpful bacteria. These incredible bacteria break down any remaining food particles and produce vitamins that are good for your body.

The Rectum and Anus – Bye Bye, Food!

Our adventure concludes in the rectum and anus. The rectum stores the waste. When you feel the urge to go to the bathroom, the muscles in your anus push the waste out of your body. And just like that, your food’s journey is complete! It’s a necessary and natural process that keeps your body happy and healthy.

You’ve traveled through the amazing digestive system and discovered how your body turns food into energy. Your body is an extraordinary machine; understanding how it works is its own adventure. Happy eating and happy exploring! And you can see illustrations and explore interactives of some of these processes in BodyWorks on the third floor of the Science Center.

Source:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “Digestive System: How It Works.” opens in a new window NIDDK, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health.

Cleveland Clinic. “Digestive System.” opens in a new window Cleveland Clinic.

Scientific Peer Review by Alysia Mandato

Aneri Shethji:

Aneri Shethji is a 10th grader at North Allegheny Intermediate High School. She is very passionate about science and writing and enjoys getting involved with the community. In her free time, Aneri spends time with friends and family and loves getting outside. She can’t wait to learn more about all that science has to offer, and help others learn it too!