Which organ of the body is primarily responsible for the digestion of food?

The intestines play a crucial role in the digestion of food, effectively absorbing nutrients and water from the digested food. After food is processed in the stomach, it enters the small intestine, where enzymes and digestive juices further break down food for nutrient absorption. The walls of the intestines are lined with villi, tiny finger-like projections that maximize the surface area, thereby enhancing the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.

The small intestine consists of three sections: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, each contributing to the overall process of digestion and absorption. After the small intestine has completed its work, any remaining undigested food passes into the large intestine, where water is absorbed and waste is formed.

While the stomach, kidneys, and liver all play essential roles in the digestive process, their functions are different. The stomach primarily serves to break down food through mechanical and chemical processes, while the kidneys filter waste from the blood and regulate fluid balance, and the liver processes nutrients and produces bile but does not absorb nutrients directly. The intestines are, therefore, the organs most directly responsible for nutrient absorption following digestion.