Which part of the digestive system churns food and breaks it into a liquid mixture?

The stomach is the part of the digestive system that churns food and breaks it down into a liquid mixture, known as chyme. Its muscular walls contract to mix the food with gastric juices, which contain acids and digestive enzymes. This mechanical and chemical process is essential for breaking down food into smaller particles, allowing nutrients to be absorbed more effectively later in the digestive process.

In contrast, the small intestine is primarily responsible for nutrient absorption rather than the initial breakdown of food. The rectum serves as a storage area for waste before it is expelled from the body and does not play a role in the digestion of food. The esophagus functions as a conduit to transport food from the mouth to the stomach and does not participate in the digestion process. Thus, the stomach's unique structure and functions make it critical for converting ingested food into a form that can be further processed in the digestive system.