The illustration shows the gastrointestinal (GI) system responsible for the passage of food and drink from their entry into the mouth until the exit of remaining waste from the body as stools and urine. The water is absorbed from the small and large intestine into the blood.
In simple terms the process is as follows: the chewed food is swallowed down into the stomach where it is broken down by digestive juices. It then passes into the small intestine where the digestive process continues. The nutritional components are absorbed from the small and large intestine into the blood stream and the rest makes its way into the colon.
The water is absorbed into the blood stream where it is processed by the kidneys. The remaining solid indigestible parts leave the body as stools via the rectum and anus.
The process through the intestinal tract is driven by motility movements, which are automatically regulated by the nervous system, ensuring a regular transit.
