Breaking down nutrients with help from the liver and pancreas Large Intestine Reabsorbing water and forming waste for excretion Step-by-Step Breakdown 1. The Starting Line: Mouth & Esophagus

Once swallowed, food moves through this tube via peristalsis —rhythmic muscle contractions that push the food down. 2. The Acid Bath: Stomach Your Digestive System & How it Works - NIDDK

Digestion begins even before you eat; sight and smell trigger saliva production. Teeth mechanically grind food, while salivary enzymes start breaking down carbohydrates.

Churning food with acid and enzymes into a paste called "chyme" Small Intestine