Digestion occurs in the gastrointestinal system, which is composed of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) and the associated accessory organs.The process of digestion occurs through six steps, namely ingestion, secretion, mixing,digestion, absorption and defecation. (Tortora&Derrickson, 2008).
Anatomy of the digestive system
The GI tract or the alimentary canal is a long winding tube that measures approximately 30 feet (9 meters) in length. The mouth, esophagus, pharynx, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and the anus make up the GI tract.The salivary glands, tongue, teeth, gallbladder, pancreas and the liver make up the associated accessory organs (Tortora&Derrickson, 2008). The mouth. The mouth starts with the ...