- Mouth: The entry point for food and drink, where mechanical digestion (chewing) and chemical digestion (saliva) begin.
- Salivary Glands: Produce saliva, which contains enzymes like amylase to start breaking down carbohydrates.
- Esophagus: A muscular tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach via peristalsis.
- Liver: Produces bile, which emulsifies fats to aid in their digestion and absorption; also processes nutrients and detoxifies substances.
- Stomach: A muscular organ that churns food and mixes it with gastric juices containing hydrochloric acid and pepsin to break down proteins.
- Gallbladder: Stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver, releasing it into the small intestine when needed for fat digestion.
- Large Intestine: Absorbs water and electrolytes from indigestible food matter and forms feces for excretion.
- Small Intestine: The primary site for nutrient absorption; digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the gallbladder further break down food here.
- Anus: The terminal end of the digestive tract, through which feces are expelled from the body.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of human body organ systems worksheet.
