Final answer:
The digestive system is crucial for digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination, involving both mechanical and chemical processes to break down food.
Step-by-step explanation:
Major Functions of the Digestive System:
The digestive system has three primary functions: digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and the elimination of solid food waste. Digestion involves both mechanical and chemical processes to break down food into absorbable components. Mechanical digestion physically breaks down food into smaller pieces, while chemical digestion involves enzymes to further disintegrate food into nutrients the body can use.
After digestion, the small intestine plays a critical role in absorption, where nutrients are taken into the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The remaining indigestible food is compacted and eventually excreted as waste, completing the elimination process. Digestion is the process of breaking down food into components the body can absorb. It consists of two types of processes: mechanical digestion and chemical digestion.