The digestive system breaks down food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and used by the body. It begins with ingestion in the mouth, where teeth break food into smaller pieces. The esophagus transports food to the stomach through peristalsis. The stomach further breaks down food using digestive juices before passing it to the small intestine, where most absorption occurs through fingerlike villi and microvilli. The large intestine absorbs remaining water before waste is expelled through the anus. The digestive system involves coordinated actions of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus.