Title: Digestive System (Anatomy): How It Works
Headings: Your Digestive System
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Your Digestive System
In this Article
Mouth
Throat
Esophagus
Stomach
Small Intestine

Content: When it leaves the stomach, food is the consistency of a liquid or paste. From there the food moves to the small intestine. Small Intestine
Made up of three segments, the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, the small intestine is a long tube loosely coiled in the abdomen (spread out, it would be more than 20 feet long). The small intestine continues the process of breaking down food by using enzymes released by the pancreas and bile from the liver. Bile is a compound that aids in the digestion of fat and eliminates waste products from the blood. Peristalsis (contractions) is also at work in this organ, moving food through and mixing it up with digestive secretions. The duodenum is largely responsible for continuing the process of breaking down food, with the jejunum and ileum being mainly responsible for the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream. Continued
Three organs play a pivotal role in helping the stomach and small intestine digest food: Pancreas
Among other functions, the oblong pancreas secretes enzymes into the small intestine. These enzymes break down protein, fat, and carbohydrates from the food we eat.