FOCUS QUESTION

How does the digestive system break down food and absorb nutrients?

The map breaks this topic into its core concepts, connected by labeled relationships. Each link is written so it can be read as a complete statement — not just an unlabeled line between boxes.

Concepts and relationships

  • Mouth passes to Esophagus.
  • Teeth & Tongue mechanically digest in Mouth.
  • Saliva (Amylase) chemically digest in Mouth.
  • Esophagus moves food to Stomach.
  • Peristalsis propels food through Esophagus.
  • Stomach passes chyme to Small Intestine.
  • Gastric Acid breaks down in Stomach.
  • Chyme enters Small Intestine.
  • Liver produces Bile.
  • Bile emulsifies fats in Small Intestine.
  • Pancreas secretes Digestive Enzymes.
  • Digestive Enzymes digest in Small Intestine.
  • Small Intestine absorbs Nutrient Absorption.
  • Nutrient Absorption enters Bloodstream.
  • Small Intestine passes waste to Large Intestine.
  • Large Intestine performs Water Absorption.
  • Large Intestine moves waste to Rectum.
  • Rectum expelled via Elimination.

How to read this map

Follow the path food takes from the mouth onward, reading the relationship word on each connection. Separate the organs (structures) from the processes they perform and the substances that result.

Learning objectives

  • Order the main organs of the digestive tract.
  • Distinguish mechanical from chemical digestion.
  • Explain where key nutrients are absorbed.
  • Describe the role of accessory organs such as the liver.
Review standard: The organ sequence and functions were checked against standard secondary-school anatomy descriptions and are updated whenever the template changes. Sources: OpenStax Anatomy & Physiology — The Digestive System.