Digestion refers to the processes of breaking down food, absorption of the nutrients contained within it, and the elimination of the waste by-product. The process of digestion starts with chewing where several enzymes in the saliva begin the initial process of breaking down the food. From here the food is swallowed passing into the stomach where gastric acid starts working on further breaking down the food. The stomach also produces some digestive enzymes that assist in the digestive process. The action of the stomach acid and enzymes produces a gel-like liquid called chyme which is moved into the small intestine where the majority of nutrient absorption takes place. Waste products are eventually passed out of the body via the large intestine.






