Digestive system worksheet with matching exercise and food tips.

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 the primary site. But "last chance" could be interpreted as large intestine, though technically small intestine is the main absorber. Wait — actually, large intestine absorbs water and electrolytes, not nutrients like proteins/fats. So maybe small intestine is still the main one.

But let’s re-evaluate: The small intestine is the main site of nutrient absorption. The large intestine absorbs water and some vitamins (from gut bacteria), but not significant amounts of proteins or fats.

So “last place and last chance” likely refers to large intestine absorbing what’s left.

✔ J. Large intestine

16. Receives all waste products body does not need
→ Colon (large intestine) receives undigested material and forms feces
✔ J. Large intestine (same as above)

Wait — both 15 and 16 are pointing to large intestine? Let's check.

Actually, colon = large intestine, so yes.

But 15 says "last chance to absorb nutrients" — large intestine does absorb some nutrients (like vitamin K from bacteria), but mostly water.

Still, it's acceptable.

16. "Receives all waste products body does not need" — yes, colon receives indigestible waste.

So both 15 and 16 → J. Large intestine

But wait — perhaps there's a better fit?

Let’s look at H. Gall bladder — stores bile, not waste.

M. Pancreas — makes enzymes, not waste receiver.

So yes, J. Large intestine fits both.

But let’s see if they’re distinct.

Wait — 15: Last chance to absorb nutrients → Large intestine (absorbs water, electrolytes, some B vitamins and K)

16: Receives all waste products → Large intestine (yes)

So both are J. Large intestine

But only one choice per line — so maybe both can be J.

But let’s keep going.

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, filters blood
✔ K. Liver

19. Helps absorb fats into the bloodstream
→ Bile emulsifies fats so they can be absorbed by small intestine
But bile doesn’t absorb — it helps. The small intestine absorbs fats.

Wait — the small intestine absorbs fats, but bile helps by emulsifying them.

But the function says “helps absorb fats into the bloodstream” — so bile is correct because it enables absorption.

Yes, bile is essential for fat absorption.

✔ 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 List:

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

Note: Both 15 and 16 are J. Large intestine — this is acceptable since both describe roles of the large intestine.

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Final 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 promote healthy bowel movements. Drinking plenty of water helps soften stool and aids digestion. Probiotic-rich foods (like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut) support good gut bacteria. Avoiding excessive processed foods, sugary drinks, and fatty meals can also prevent digestive issues.

✔ Example Answer:
> Foods rich in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, along with plenty of water and probiotic foods like yogurt, help the digestive system work properly by promoting regularity, supporting gut bacteria, and aiding nutrient absorption.

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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

Answer to question:
Foods high in fiber (fruits, vegetables, whole grains), plenty of water, and probiotics (like yogurt) are best for helping the digestive system work properly.