per 8 Digestive System Processes and Functions

The stomach's primary function is to break down food using gastric acid and enzymes, facilitating digestion.

GERD is a condition where stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophagus, causing heartburn and discomfort.

Chemical digestion.

The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the throat (pharynx) with the stomach, transporting food after swallowing.

The stomach is coated with a layer of mucus that protects it from the corrosive effects of gastric acid.

The last section of the digestive system is the large intestine, where water is absorbed and waste is eliminated.

Enzymes speed up the chemical reactions that break down food into smaller, absorbable molecules.

Mechanical digestion involves the physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces, such as chewing.

The small intestine is responsible for the majority of nutrient absorption from digested food.

The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and bicarbonate to aid in the digestion of food in the small intestine.