Digestion

• The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food into nutrients that can be absorbed by the body.
• Food then travels through the esophagus and enters the stomach.
• Saliva contains enzymes that begin to break down carbohydrates.
• Digestion begins with chewing, which breaks down large pieces of food into smaller ones.
• The stomach is the organ that receives food from the esophagus, mixes it with digestive juices to form chyme, and stores it until it can be digested further.
• Lipases break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
• Proteases break down proteins into peptides.
• The small intestine produces enzymes such as lactase, which breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose.
• The pancreas produces enzymes such as amylase, lipase, and protease that aid in the digestion of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, respectively.