Which organ system helps in breaking down food for nutrient absorption?

The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food so that nutrients can be absorbed by the body. This system includes various organs such as the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and accessory organs like the liver and pancreas. The process begins in the mouth, where food is mechanically broken down by chewing and mixed with saliva, which contains enzymes that start the digestion of carbohydrates.

As food travels through the digestive tract, it undergoes further breakdown through mechanical and chemical processes. For instance, in the stomach, gastric juices further digest the food, while the intestines absorb the nutrients into the bloodstream. The entire system works together to ensure that essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, are extracted from food, facilitating energy production, growth, and repair in the body.

The other systems listed, such as the respiratory system, circulatory system, and excretory system, serve different functions, such as gas exchange, transporting blood and nutrients, and waste removal, respectively, and do not directly engage in the breakdown and absorption of food.