Digestive System - Free Printable

Let's solve this step-by-step.

We are given a list of 20 digestive system functions, and we need to match each with the correct term from the provided list (A–T). Then, we’ll answer the final question about foods/drinks that help the digestive system work properly.

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Step 1: Understand the terms

Here’s a quick review of the key organs and structures:

- Oral cavity – Mouth; includes teeth, tongue, saliva.
- Saliva – Moistens food and starts digestion (amylase).
- Teeth – Chew and break down food.
- Tongue – Helps mix food and push it into esophagus.
- Epiglottis – Flap that covers trachea during swallowing.
- Esophagus – Tube that moves food from mouth to stomach.
- Stomach – Breaks down food using gastric juices.
- Gastric juices – Acid and enzymes in the stomach.
- Pancreas – Produces digestive enzymes and bicarbonate.
- Liver – Produces bile; detoxifies substances.
- Gall bladder – Stores bile from liver.
- Bile – Helps digest fats.
- Small intestine – Main site for nutrient absorption (22 ft long).
- Large intestine (colon) – Absorbs water; forms waste.
- Rectum – Stores feces before elimination.
- Anus – Exit point for waste.
- Appendix – Vestigial organ (no major function now).
- Digestion – The process of breaking down food.
- Trachea – Windpipe (not part of digestion, but mentioned).

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Step 2: Match each function

Now go through each numbered statement and match it with the best term.

1. Helps break down food; kills any bacteria in the food
→ Stomach (uses acid and enzymes)
✔ Q. Stomach

2. 22 foot long; place body absorbs proteins, nutrients, fats
→ Small intestine is ~22 feet long and main absorption site
✔ P. Small intestine

3. Stores food; breaks it down into a mixture
→ Stomach stores food and mixes it into chyme
✔ Q. Stomach

4. Flap preventing food from entering windpipe
→ Epiglottis closes over trachea when swallowing
✔ E. Epiglottis

5. The windpipe where food should not go
→ Trachea is the windpipe
✔ T. Trachea

6. Moves food from the back of the throat to the stomach
→ Esophagus transports food via peristalsis
✔ G. Esophagus

7. Includes the saliva, teeth, and tongue
→ Oral cavity contains all these
✔ L. Oral cavity

8. Spit that breaks down food inside the mouth
→ Saliva contains amylase that starts starch digestion
✔ O. Saliva

9. Helps break down food in the mouth when you chew
→ Teeth mechanically break down food
✔ R. Teeth

10. Helps move food into the opening of the esophagus
→ Tongue pushes food toward the pharynx
✔ S. Tongue

11. The process of food being broken down
→ This is digestion
✔ D. Digestion

12. The exit through which waste leaves the body
→ Anus is the opening for feces
✔ A. Anus

13. End of large intestine where waste is pushed out
→ Rectum holds waste before expulsion
✔ N. Rectum

14. No longer serves a purpose but can become infected
→ Appendix is vestigial and can get inflamed
✔ B. Appendix

15. Last place and last chance for body to absorb nutrients
→ Large intestine absorbs water and some vitamins, but most nutrients are absorbed earlier. However, small intestine is primary. But “last chance” might refer to large intestine, which absorbs water and electrolytes. But note: most nutrients are absorbed in small intestine. So this may be misleading.

Wait — let's clarify:
- Small intestine: Primary site for nutrient absorption.
- Large intestine (colon): Absorbs water and electrolytes; some vitamin production by bacteria.

But “last place and last chance” for nutrient absorption? Actually, large intestine does absorb some nutrients (like B vitamins and K from gut bacteria), so it could be argued as "last chance."

However, small intestine is the main site. But since #2 already uses small intestine for "absorbs proteins, fats," and #15 says "last place and last chance," likely referring to large intestine absorbing remaining nutrients.

So:
✔ J. Large intestine

16. Receives all waste products body does not need
→ Large intestine collects waste from small intestine
✔ J. Large intestine

17. Makes juices that help your body digest fats and proteins
→ Pancreas produces pancreatic juice with enzymes (lipases, proteases)
✔ M. Pancreas

18. Filters out anything harmful to your body
→ Liver detoxifies toxins, metabolizes drugs, etc.
✔ K. Liver

19. Helps absorb fats into the bloodstream
→ Bile emulsifies fats, aiding absorption in small intestine
✔ C. Bile

20. Stores bile from the liver until your body needs it
→ Gall bladder stores and concentrates bile
✔ H. Gall bladder

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Final Matching Answers:

1. Q
2. P
3. Q
4. E
5. T
6. G
7. L
8. O
9. R
10. S
11. D
12. A
13. N
14. B
15. J
16. J
17. M
18. K
19. C
20. H

> Note: #3 and #15 both use J (Large intestine), but #3 says "stores food; breaks down into a mixture" — that's stomach, not large intestine.

Wait! Let's double-check #3.

#3: Stores food; breaks it down into a mixture
→ That’s definitely the stomach. It stores food and churns it into chyme.

But I previously matched #3 to Q. Stomach — that’s correct.

Then #15: Last place and last chance for body to absorb nutrients
→ Is this large intestine?

Actually, small intestine absorbs most nutrients. The large intestine absorbs water and electrolytes, not major nutrients. But some vitamins (like B12, K) are produced by bacteria and absorbed here.

So “last chance” for nutrient absorption could refer to large intestine, but it’s not the main site.

But let’s look again at the choices:

- #2: Small intestine → absorbs proteins, fats, nutrients
- #15: Last place and last chance → implies large intestine is the final stop

Yes, large intestine is the last place for absorption (of water and some vitamins), so it’s acceptable.

But #3 is clearly stomach.

So no conflict.

But wait: #16: Receives all waste products body does not need → large intestine receives waste from small intestine → yes, J

So both #15 and #16 are J. Large intestine

That’s okay — one organ can have multiple functions.

So matches are valid.

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Final Answer Key:

1. Q – Stomach
2. P – Small intestine
3. Q – Stomach
4. E – Epiglottis
5. T – Trachea
6. G – Esophagus
7. L – Oral cavity
8. O – Saliva
9. R – Teeth
10. S – Tongue
11. D – Digestion
12. A – Anus
13. N – Rectum
14. B – Appendix
15. J – Large intestine
16. J – Large intestine
17. M – Pancreas
18. K – Liver
19. C – Bile
20. H – Gall bladder

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Bonus Question:

Which kinds of food or drink are best for helping the digestive system work properly?

Answer:
Foods high in fiber (like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes) help keep the digestive system regular and prevent constipation. Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi support healthy gut bacteria. Drinking plenty of water helps soften stool and aids digestion. Avoiding excessive processed foods, sugar, and fatty foods also supports digestive health.

✔ Example answer:
Foods rich in fiber (such as apples, broccoli, brown rice, beans) and probiotics (like yogurt) help the digestive system work properly. Drinking plenty of water also keeps things moving smoothly.

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Final Answer:

Matching:

1. Q
2. P
3. Q
4. E
5. T
6. G
7. L
8. O
9. R
10. S
11. D
12. A
13. N
14. B
15. J
16. J
17. M
18. K
19. C
20. H

Best foods/drinks:
Fiber-rich foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains), probiotic foods (yogurt, kefir), and plenty of water help the digestive system work properly.