How the Circulatory and Digestive System Work

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In the body there are two main body systems one being the circulatory system and the other being the digestive system. The digestive system has four main stages these are ingestion, digestion, absorption and elimination. Ingestion starts at the mouth where the food enters the mouth and is chewed using the teeth in the mouth. The salivary glands in the mouth produce saliva which also helps to break food down and makes it easier to swallow. Once the food has been swallowed is goes down the oesophagus where the involuntary muscle movements help push the food to the stomach. Once the food reaches the stomach the process called digestion begins; the acids in the stomach make a very hostile environment for bacteria to survive one of the main acids in the stomach is called hydrochloric acid. Once all the bacteria in the stomach is killed the food passes through to the small intestine and the process called absorption begins. The large food molecules are broken down in the small intestine and the nutrient are absorbed by the micro villi. Once all the nutrients in the food has been absorbed the process called elimination begins this is when the broken down food is no longer needed and is eliminated out of the rectum. The circulatory system is made up of the heart, vessels such as capillaries, veins and arteries, lungs and blood. The blood travels all over the body through the capillaries, veins and arteries; distributing oxygen and other nutrients around the body. This is a never ending process as when the blood has used up the oxygen and is deoxygenated the blood goes through the right atrium and into the lungs to be oxygenated again and then go to the left atrium in the heart to be pumped around the body. The circulatory system and the digestive system work together in order to keep the body fully functioning for example the small micro villi absorbs the nutrients

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