Describe the function of the digestive system, including how waste is removed from the body.

The digestive system plays a crucial role in the body by breaking down food into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair. Here's a step-by-step description of how it works:

1. Ingestion: The process begins when food is ingested through the mouth.

2. Mechanical and Chemical Digestion: The food is then mechanically broken down by the teeth and chemically by saliva, which contains enzymes that start the process of turning complex sugars into simpler ones.

3. Swallowing: The tongue pushes the chewed food into the esophagus, a tube that connects the throat to the stomach.

4. Stomach Digestion: In the stomach, the food is mixed with stomach acid and enzymes, which break down proteins into smaller molecules.

5. Small Intestine Digestion: The partially digested food then moves into the small intestine, where it is broken down further by enzymes produced by the liver and pancreas. Nutrients are absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream.

6. Large Intestine Absorption: The remaining undigested food moves into the large intestine, where water and electrolytes are absorbed. The remaining matter is formed into feces.

7. Elimination: The feces move into the rectum and are eliminated from the body through the anus.

This process ensures that the body gets the nutrients it needs and that waste products are properly removed.