During development of the digestive system, a complex network of nerves forms around it, creating a "second brain"—the enteric nervous system (ENS)—which controls the movement of food and waste ...

The mouth starts the digestion process by breaking food down into a more easily digestible form. It does this through a combination of mechanical and chemical digestion. After people take food in ...

Chemical digestion occurs when the body uses enzymes to break down certain molecules, such as carbohydrates. This process allows the bloodstream to absorb smaller molecules to transport around the ...