Mouth

The mouth is the entrance to the digestive system as it receives food. Chewing and digestive juices help break down food for a smooth passage through the esophagus.

Tongue

The tongue consists of eight muscles that can move in any direction, making it quite flexible. There are thousands of taste buds housed in the tiny pink and white bumps on a person's tongue. Our tongue also helps shape sound into words.

Teeth

The teeth are the hardest substances in the human body and are set in sockets in the jaw. Just like fingerprints, teeth are also unique to each person. Our teeth are the only human body part that can't repair themselves.

Esophagus

It is a hollow, muscular tube that helps carry food and liquid from our mouth to our stomach.

Stomach

This J-shaped organ is a part of the GI tract and digests food by creating digestive enzymes. This food moves to our small intestine so nutrients can absorb into the bloodstream, where cells can use them for energy.

Large intestine

Also called the colon, it accepts the half-digested waste from the small intestine, absorbs water, nutrients, and electrolytes from this waste, and forms feces.

Small intestine

It is a long, narrow tube extending from the stomach to the large intestine, where most digestion and absorption occur. It is about 6.7 to 7.6 meters long!

Rectum

The last several inches of the colon or large intestine hold stool until it pushes this out of your anus during a bowel movement.

Anus

It is the last part of the digestive tract and consists of muscles through which stool leaves the body.