What is mechanical breakdown in digestion?
Mechanical digestion involves physically breaking down food substances into smaller particles to more efficiently undergo chemical digestion. The role of chemical digestion is to further degrade the molecular structure of the ingested compounds by digestive enzymes into a form that is absorbable into the bloodstream.
What organs help with mechanical breakdown?
The digestive glands (salivary glands, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder) produce or store secretions that the body carries to the digestive tract in ducts and breaks down chemically. Food processing begins with ingestion (eating). The teeth aid in mechanical digestion by masticating (chewing) food.
What are the three types of mechanical digestion?
Terms in this set (5)
- Mouth. mastication/chewing.
- Esophagus. peristalsis.
- Stomach. maceration- (mixing wave)
- Small intestine. peristalsis. segmentation.
- large intestine. peristalsis. haustra churning. gastroileal reflex. gastrocolic reflex.
Which two organs is food broken down?
The digestive process
| Organ | Movement | Food Particles Broken Down |
|---|---|---|
| Stomach | Upper muscle in stomach relaxes to let food enter, and lower muscle mixes food with digestive juice | Proteins |
| Small intestine | Peristalsis | Starches, proteins, and carbohydrates |
| Pancreas | None | Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins |
| Liver | None | Fats |
What is the importance of mechanical digestion?
Mechanical digestion is a purely physical process that does not change the chemical nature of the food. Instead, it makes the food smaller to increase both surface area and mobility. It includes mastication, or chewing, as well as tongue movements that help break food into smaller bits and mix food with saliva.