Digestion, Absorption & Metabolism Chapter 3 - pages 81-91
Digestive tract and alimentary system are names for the tubular organs that extend from the mouth to the anus. The entire system including the pancreas, liver and gallbladder is sometimes called the GI tract (gastrointestinal tract).
Digestion which is the breaking down of foods into smaller parts is required before absorption can occur.
Absorption is the passing of nutrients from the digestive tract through the villi into the bloodstream. Most nutrients then travel to the liver and are then available for use by the body.
Digestion & absorption occur in the mouth, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.
Note: Food is not considered to be inside the body until it has been absorbed.