Where does the majority of digestion & absorption take place?

The majority of digestion and absorption takes place in the small intestine. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Digestion begins in the mouth where food is broken down into smaller pieces by chewing and mixed with saliva.

2. The food then travels down the esophagus into the stomach, where it is mixed with stomach acid to break it down further.

3. The partially digested food, now called chyme, then moves into the small intestine. This is where the majority of digestion and absorption occurs.

4. In the small intestine, the chyme is broken down even further by enzymes produced by the pancreas and bile from the liver.

5. The walls of the small intestine are lined with tiny finger-like projections called villi. These increase the surface area for absorption.

6. Nutrients from the digested food are absorbed through the walls of the small intestine and into the bloodstream.

7. The remaining undigested food moves into the large intestine, where water is absorbed and the remaining material is excreted as feces.