Structure of the Digestive System

Mouth and Salivary Glands: The digestive process starts in the mouth where food is mechanically broken down by the teeth and chemically broken down by enzymes in saliva.
Esophagus: This muscular tube forms a passageway for food to travel from the mouth to the stomach.
Stomach: The stomach is a muscular bag where food is mixed with stomach acids and enzymes to continue breaking down food particles.
Small Intestine: The next stage of digestion occurs in the small intestine where nutrients from the food are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Pancreas: This organ releases digestive enzymes into the small intestine to help break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Liver and Gallbladder: The liver produces bile, which is stored in the gallbladder and released into the small intestine to help digest fats.
Large Intestine (Colon): The large intestine absorbs the remaining water, electrolytes and vitamins produced by enteric bacteria.
Rectum and Anus: The rectum stores faeces, undigested food, until it can be eliminated from the body through the anus.

Remember that the entire digestive system works together to convert food into smaller and smaller molecules, so they can be absorbed and utilised by the body. The structure of each organ is tailored to its role in this process.