ABSTRACT
How Do We Get the Nutrients in the Food into Our Bodies? Most people do not eat to consume nutrients. They consume food as part of their daily lifestyle choices. These foods must be broken down into absorbable components through the processes of digestion and absorption provided by the gastrointestinal system. This system consists of the mouth (oral cavity containing teeth, tongue, and salivary glands) esophagus, stomach (including the parietal cells and other cells that produce and release enzymes and other uids necessary for digestion), the small intestine (including the cells that produce and release enzymes and those cells that produce and release hormones), large intestine, rectum, and anus. Some people would also include the liver and the duct connecting it to the gallbladder as well as the bile duct connecting the gallbladder to the small intestine. Bile, produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, is needed for the emulsication of food lipid and also serves as a conduit for the recirculation of several minerals as well as cholesterol. Another important accessory organ is the pancreas. This organ has both exocrine and endocrine functions.
