Digestive system. Computer artwork showing a healthy human digestive system, in stylised and three-dimensional form. At top is the oesophagus, a tube which transports food from mouth to stomach. The bean-shaped stomach stores food and digests it with acidic gastric juices. The food then enters the small intestine, a coiled tube (at centre) which is the longest region of the digestive system. In the small intestine, food is further digested and absorbed into the blood. Food residue then passes into the large intestine or colon (around small intestine), a wide circular tract in which excess water is absorbed. Faeces is stored in the rectum (tube at lower centre).