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What is the process by which food is broken down?
Food is ingested through the mouth and broken down through mastication (chewing). Food must be chewed in order to be swallowed and broken down by digestive enzymes. While food is being chewed, saliva chemically processes the food to aid in swallowing.
What begins the mechanical breakdown of food?
The mouth is the organ in which the process of digestion begins. It starts the process of mechanical digestion by grinding the food with teeth. Also in the mouth, an enzyme called salivary amylase begins to break down long starch molecules into maltose .
What organs break down food?
Small intestine: The small intestine receives food from the stomach and begins to break down the food while absorbing the majority of its nutrients. Large intestine: This organ is filled with billions of harmless bacteria that turn food into feces while removing water and electrolytes for the body’s use.
How does the body breakdown food?
The process of breaking down food into molecules the body can absorb is called digestion. The digestive system begins with the mouth and involves many organs in the abdomen. The digestive organs produce ENZYMES which break down food chemically.
What are the two ways food is broken down?
Mechanical digestion. Food is taken into the mouth where it is broken down into smaller pieces by the teeth.
What happens to the food that is not broken down?
When food isn’t broken down properly, larger molecules like fat and undigested sugars remain in the stools. Transit time through the intestine may be shorter than normal and intestinal matter will often contain more water, causing loose stools or diarrhea.
What is in the large intestine breaks down food?
The large intestine doesn’t release digestive enzymes, but it does contain bacteria that further break down nutrients. It also absorbs vitamins, minerals, and water. Chemical digestion is a vital part of the digestive process.