Eating Using Fancy Biological Words
Eating is a process of ingestion and digestion of nutrients to provide energy to the body. Ingestion is the act of taking food into the body via the mouth, where mastication or chewing breaks down the food into smaller pieces, allowing for easier swallowing and digestion. Digestion is the breakdown of the food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the body for energy. During digestion, the stomach secretes hydrochloric acid and enzymes that break down the food into simple molecules that can be absorbed in the small intestine. In the small intestine, the food is further broken down and nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Mastication
Mastication is the process of chewing food in preparation for swallowing and digestion. It is essential for breaking down food into pieces small enough to swallow. During mastication, the teeth grind and mash the food, while the tongue and saliva help to form the food into a soft, moist bolus which can be swallowed.
Digestion
Digestion is the process of breaking down food into smaller molecules to be absorbed by the body. The stomach secretes hydrochloric acid and enzymes that break down the food for further digestion in the small intestine. In the small intestine, the food is further broken down and nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Absorption
Absorption is the process of taking the nutrients from food into the body. In the small intestine, the nutrients from food are absorbed into the bloodstream. The small intestine is lined with tiny finger-like projections called villi, which provide a larger surface area for the absorption of nutrients.
Related Questions
- What is the process of mastication?
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