The Basics of The Digestive System

More than 60 million Americans suffer from heartburn every month, but few know exactly what goes wrong in the body that leads to reflux. To understand you’ll have to learn the inner workings of your body’s incredible digestive system. See how much you know!

Information taken from: Nutrition Concepts and Controversies, 11th ed. by Frances Sizer and Ellie Whitney

What’s the correct course of food through the digestive tract

Mouth, Stomach, Esophagus, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Rectum
Mouth, Esophagus, Stomach, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Rectum
Mouth, Esophagus, Stomach, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Rectum
Mouth, Esophagus, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Stomach, Rectum

Question 1 of 5

(0 out of 1) Incorrect! Our teeth and saliva begin the breakdown of food in the mouth. Once we swallow, food moves down the esophagus and into the stomach where it's broken down further. What’s left of the food we ate moves next into the small intestine where nutrients and vitamins are absorbed. The remaining indigestible mass of fiber and water travels to the large intestine where water is reabsorbed by the body. The material finally moves to the rectum until our body eventually eliminates the waste. Continue Quiz >

(1 out of 1) Correct! Our teeth and saliva begin the breakdown of food in the mouth. Once we swallow, food moves down the esophagus and into the stomach where it's broken down further. What’s left of the food we ate moves next into the small intestine where nutrients and vitamins are absorbed. The remaining indigestible mass of fiber and water travels to the large intestine where water is reabsorbed by the body. The material finally moves to the rectum until our body eventually eliminates the waste. Continue Quiz >