The grasshopper is a descendant of the cricket and there are over 11,000 species throughout the world of grasshoppers. Most grasshoppers are carnivores, but on occasion eat animal tissue and feces. In order for a grasshopper to eat, it uses its mandibles to chew its food and from there the salivary glands break down any carbohydrates. Eventually from there it goes through the oesophagus, the gizzards, and then finally the stomach where lots of enzymes begin to break things down. In order for the grasshopper to breathe they have an open circulatory system and their body cavities are filled with something called haemolymph which pumps fluid through the head and abdomen. For most grasshoppers that are bigger in size, they must keep moving in order to ventilate their bodies and help their abdominal muscles contract so they can breathe. An interesting fact is that if one has a grasshopper appear in a dream, some believe it is a sign of independence or a fear of "settling down".
Here is a detailed description of how to dissect a grasshopper:
http://youtu.be/SuGd0bb1vbM
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