The digestive system breaks down food into smaller components, absorbs nutrients into the body, and eliminates unabsorbed waste. Digestion begins in the mouth where saliva contains enzymes that break down food. The food is then masticated with the teeth and passed through the esophagus to the stomach where gastric juices further break it down. Unabsorbed material then passes to the small and large intestines for further breakdown and absorption before elimination from the body.