The process of digesting food begins when food is placed in the mouth. Once swallowed, the food begins its journey through the digestive tract and ends at the anus. The digestive track, or gut, is made up of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food and other cells that produce enzymes and hormones to aid in the breakdown of food. There are four major functions that the digestive tract accomplishes:

• Digestion
• Absorption of Nutrients
• Movement (food/objects moving through the digestive track)
• Elimination of Feces