Digestion and Excretion

Our Digestive and Excretory Systems!

Our digestive system is how we get nutrients from the food we eat. Our excretory systems allow our bodies to get rid of the excess water and waste from the food we eat and liquids we drink. 

How does the digestive system work? 

1. Digestion starts in the mouth! The mouth has teeth that break down the food into small pieces and a tongue that mixes the food with saliva. 

2. Next, the food travels through the esophagus to the stomach. 

3. The food stays in the stomach for three hours. In the stomach, the food mixes with gastric juices. The food is eventually turned into a thick liquid and passes to the small intestine. 

4. In the small intestine, the nutrients from the thick liquid are absorbed into the bloodstream. The remaining liquid moves to the large intestine. 

5. The waste (what our body doesn't absorb) is then passed through the large intestine and exits the body through the anus. 

Watch this animation to get a visual of the digestive system!

Now that you have watched the video, try pronouncing the important terms. 

Human excretory system 

How does our excretory system work? 

1. The blood goes through the kidneys. The kidneys remove excess water and waste products from the blood and turn them into urine. 

2. The ureters are long tubes where the urine goes down to the bladder.

3. The bladder is like a bag, it collects the urine. When it is full it sends messages to our brain. It is time to go to the toilet.

4. The urethra is a short tube. Urine goes down here and leaves our body when we go to the toilet.

Watch this video on the excretory system to learn more!

Now that you have watched the video, try pronouncing the important terms. 

For each of these terms, identify whether the term comes from the digestive system or the excretory system. 

1. Kidney 

2. Gastric juices 

3. Stomach

4. Urine

5. Urethra

7. Small intestine 

8. Bladder  

9. Esophagus 

10. Teeth 

Answers here: 

1. Kidney, excretory system 

2. Gastric juices, digestive system 

3. Stomach, digestive system 

4. Urine, excretory system

5. Urethra, excretory system

7. Small intestine, digestive system 

8. Bladder, excretory system 

9. Esophagus, digestive system 

10. Teeth, digestive system