SOLUTION: Digestive system worksheet - Studypool - Free Printable

Let's solve this worksheet step by step using the provided word bank. The goal is to fill in the blanks with the correct words from the box.

Word Bank:

- stomach
- chewed
- food
- energy
- rectum
- liver
- mouth
- small intestine
- waste
- saliva
- large intestine
- digestion
- system
- swallow
- tongue
- pharynx
- acid
- absorbed
- liquids
- esophagus

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Now, let’s go through each blank:

1. All animals need to eat 1. ______ to get 2. ______ to live.
- Animals eat food to get energy.
→ 1. food
→ 2. energy

2. But in order to use this food, they have to break it down in a process called 3. ______. And so, all animals have a group of connected organs called the digestive 4. ______.
- Breaking down food is digestion.
- The group of organs is the system.
→ 3. digestion
→ 4. system

3. In humans, the process of digestion begins in the 5. ______ where food is 6. ______ into small pieces by the teeth.
- Digestion starts in the mouth.
- Food is chewed by teeth.
→ 5. mouth
→ 6. chewed

4. The 7. ______ helps by moving these pieces around.
- The tongue moves food around in the mouth.
→ 7. tongue

5. These pieces are covered by 8. ______, or spit.
- Saliva is the spit that coats food.
→ 8. saliva

6. It also helps to break down the food.
- (This sentence explains saliva's function.)

7. Once the food is swallowed, it passes through the 10. ______, which is like a gate that sends food into the 11. ______ and air into the lungs.
- After the mouth, food goes through the pharynx, which directs food to the esophagus and air to the trachea.
→ 10. pharynx
→ 11. esophagus

8. The food travels down the esophagus and into the 12. ______.
- Next is the stomach.
→ 12. stomach

9. Once in the stomach the food is mixed with 13. ______ and crushed some more.
- The stomach mixes food with acid (gastric acid).
→ 13. acid

10. After spending some time in the stomach, the food is sent into the 14. ______ where nutrients are 15. ______.
- From the stomach, food goes to the small intestine.
- Nutrients are absorbed here.
→ 14. small intestine
→ 15. absorbed

11. The 16. ______ helps by producing some digestive juices called bile.
- The liver produces bile.
→ 16. liver

12. Next, the remaining food goes into the 17. ______ where the 18. ______ are absorbed.
- After the small intestine, food goes to the large intestine.
- Here, liquids are absorbed.
→ 17. large intestine
→ 18. liquids

13. The remaining food is called 19. ______ and it is pushed into the 20. ______ where it waits before leaving the body.
- Undigested material is waste.
- It goes to the rectum before being expelled.
→ 19. waste
→ 20. rectum

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Final Answer Key:

1. food
2. energy
3. digestion
4. system
5. mouth
6. chewed
7. tongue
8. saliva
9. swallow
10. pharynx
11. esophagus
12. stomach
13. acid
14. small intestine
15. absorbed
16. liver
17. large intestine
18. liquids
19. waste
20. rectum

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Explanation of the Digestive Process (Summary):

- Mouth: Food enters and is chewed; saliva helps moisten and begin digestion.
- Pharynx: Acts as a passageway for food and air.
- Esophagus: Tube that carries food to the stomach via peristalsis.
- Stomach: Mixes food with gastric acid and enzymes to break it down further.
- Small Intestine: Main site of nutrient absorption.
- Liver: Produces bile, which helps digest fats.
- Large Intestine: Absorbs water and electrolytes; forms feces.
- Rectum: Stores waste until excretion.
- Anus: Exit point for waste.

This system ensures that food is broken down into usable nutrients and waste is properly eliminated.