The mouth cavity, pharynx, esophagus and stomach

The Mouth.
Ingestion (taking in of food) starts with the mouth. Teeth cut and grind food
into smaller particles. Tongue and teeth MASTICATE (hold and chew) food
breaking it down into smaller particles. The tongue is composed of
SKELETAL muscle covered by mucous membrane, and helps when
swallowing. The TASTE BUDS are located in the mucous membrane, when
stimulated by food a nervous signal is sent which causes the salivary and
gastric glands to secrete saliva. Saliva helps lubricate and moisten food, but
also contains ENZYMES that begin to digest food while it is still in the
mouth.
The pharynx
is a mucusulomembranus sack like structure which acts as a passageway for
chewed food, and as an airway during respiration.
The oesophagus
is a long narrow mucusulomembranus tube, about 10 inches long. It is very
flexible and stretches from the pharynx to the stomach. It propels food down
to the stomach by a wavelike movement of the esophagus muscles.
Sphincters
are bands of ring like muscle that act as gateways to natural openings or
'orifices' at various locations in the body. The muscles close the opening by
contracting, and open it by relaxing. The cardiac sphincter is at the base of
the oesophagus near the heart, it relaxes to allow food to enter the stomach.
The Stomach
is a muscular, curved pouch like structure. It churns food and mixes it with
various lubricating and digestive secretions. Food enters from the esophagus
via the cardiac sphincter and is sent to the small intestine via the PYLORIC
Sphincter.

The Small Intestine, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas

The duodenum
is the first section of the small intestine. It is about 10 inches long. BILE
from the Gallbladder and PANCREATIC secretions from
the pancreas enter into the duodenum to digest food.
The jejunum
is the second section of the small intestine, further enzymes are secreted
here, which aid digestion.
The ileum
 is the longest section of the small intestine, where the bulk of food
absorption takes place. Absorption of nutrients etc. through the mucus
membrane via capillaries enter the blood stream for circulation.
The liver
is the largest gland in the body weighing about 3 lbs. It is a gland in the
sense that it secretes BILE. It is also essential in the Metabolism of proteins,
fats and carbohydrates.
The gallbladder
stores bile secreted by the liver until needed in the ileum.
The pancreas
is a long narrow, lobed gland that is located behind the stomach. The
pancreas secretes substances that aid digestion (PANCREATIC JUICE), and
two hormones; insulin and glucagen which play an important role in the
ENDOCRINE system.

The Large Intestine

Once food is absorbed in the ileum, the residue is passed into the large intestine.
This is between five and six feet long ! and divided into three sections:

The caecum
lies between the ileum and the colon. The appendix is attached to the
caecum, the appendix no longer serves any real function and can be
removed without any ill effects.
The colon
is divided into four sections: the Ascending, the Transverse, the Descending,
and the Sigmoid (S shaped) colon. Once the excess water which is a by-
product of digestion has been absorbed by the colon the solid waste is
passed to the rectum.
The rectum
is about 7 to 8 inches long. The upper part is lined with mucous membrane
arranged in multiple upright folds. The last inch of the rectum is known as
the ANAL CANAL, the external opening is the ANUS, which is controlled
by the internal and external anal sphincters.