What is the section of the digestive system that receives partially digested food from the stomach?

The small intestine is the section of the digestive system that receives partially digested food, known as chyme, from the stomach. This organ plays a crucial role in further digestion and the absorption of nutrients.

Once the food is mixed with gastric juices in the stomach, it becomes a semi-liquid substance and travels through the pyloric sphincter into the small intestine. The small intestine then consists of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, each contributing to the digestive process. In the duodenum, for instance, bile from the liver and pancreatic juices help to continue breaking down food, allowing nutrients to be absorbed through the intestinal walls.

In contrast, the large intestine primarily absorbs water and electrolytes from the remaining indigestible food matter, and the esophagus serves merely as a conduit for food to travel from the mouth to the stomach. The rectum is the final section of the digestive tract that stores feces before they are expelled from the body. Thus, the small intestine is the correct answer for the section of the digestive system that directly receives partially digested food from the stomach.