Understanding Digestion: How Organisms Obtain Nutrients

Digestion is the process of breaking down food into absorbable molecules for metabolism. The digestive system—a series of coordinated organs—carries out this process:

1. Mouth: Saliva begins carbohydrate breakdown.
2. Stomach: Acid and enzymes further digest food.
3. Small Intestine: Pancreatic enzymes and liver bile break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates; nutrients absorb through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.
4. Large Intestine: Water is reclaimed; undigested waste is eliminated.

This sequential process ensures efficient nutrient extraction and waste removal.