The digestive system is a group of organs that work together to break down food and absorb nutrients for energy and growth. It is a long, twisting tube that starts at the mouth and goes through the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. The digestive system breaks down food into nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream so the body can use them for energy, growth, and repair. Unused materials are discarded as feces (poo) . Other organs that form part of the digestive system are the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder.

Each organ of the digestive system has an important role in digestion. For example, the mouth chews food into small pieces, and glands in the cheeks and under the tongue produce saliva that coats the food, making it easier to be chewed and swallowed. Saliva also contains enzymes that start to digest the carbohydrates in food. The stomach mixes food with digestive juices and churns it into a liquid called chyme. Most of the chemical digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates is completed in the small intestine[[3]](https://www.betterhealth.vic....