What is Digestion? (2024)

What is Digestion? (1)

  • Download PDF Copy

Digestion refers to the breakdown of food into smaller components that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. This digestion or catabolism is divided into two types – the mechanical digestion of food that occurs in the mouth when it is physically broken up into smaller pieces and the chemical digestion that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract when the food is broken down into small molecules by digestive enzymes.

In mammals, digestion involves the intake of food through the mouth where it is chewed between the teeth in a process called mastication. The saliva present in the mouth contains amylase which begins the break down of starch in the food.

The food then travels down the food pipe or the esophagus to reach the stomach where gastric juices start to breakdown the protein in the food. The gastric juice mainly comprises pepsin and hydrochloric acid. As these substances can be damaging to the stomach, mucus is also secreted to line the stomach and protect it. The acids in the stomach work by denaturing the proteins present in food. While this chemical digestion is happening, further mechanical digestion is occurring through persitalsis, as the muscles in the stomach wall contract to mix up the food and digestive enzymes.

In humans, the food stays in the stomach for around an hour or two and then moves into the small intestine where numerous enzymes are released to further break down the food components. The walls of the small intestine form wrinkles and folds that contain projections called villi and mirovilli that provide a large surface area for the diffusion of digested food molecules into the blood vessels of the intestinal wall.

The liver and pancreas both play important roles in digestion. The liver produces the bile (required for digestion), which is carried into the small intestine by the bile duct and the pancreas secretes the pancreatic juices that also aid digestion and nutrient absorption. For example, the complex carbohydrates in food such as those found in rice and bread are broken down into simple sugars such as glucose that can be readily absorbed by the body to provide energy for various cellular functions.

After passing thought the small intestine, food moves into the large intestine which absorbs the remaining nutrients and water. The resulting fecal material is stored in the rectum, from where it passes out of the body though defecation.

Sources

  1. www.niddk.nih.gov/.../digestive-system-how-it-works
  2. http://ib.berkeley.edu/courses/bio11/SimisonApril19.pdf
  3. https://www.purdue.edu/
  4. https://wellnessoptions.ca/

Further Reading

Last Updated: Jul 16, 2023

What is Digestion? (3)

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

  • Download PDF Copy

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2023, July 16). What is Digestion?. News-Medical. Retrieved on March 30, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Digestion.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "What is Digestion?". News-Medical. 30 March 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Digestion.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "What is Digestion?". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Digestion.aspx. (accessed March 30, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2023. What is Digestion?. News-Medical, viewed 30 March 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Digestion.aspx.

Comments

  1. What is Digestion? (12) andre espinola What is Digestion? (13) says:

    como circula la comida se que primero va la boca glándulas salivales estomago y no se si va el hígado pero despues del higado si va segiria con las pancreas y luego el intestino gruesoel delgado y el ano

    0 0

    Reply

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.

What is Digestion? (14)

Post a new comment

Login

(Logout)

Post

Terms

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

What is Digestion? (2024)

FAQs

What is a digestion short answer? ›

Digestion is the process of mechanically and enzymatically breaking down food into substances for absorption into the bloodstream.

What is digestion explained easily? ›

The digestive system converts the foods we eat into their simplest forms, like glucose (sugars), amino acids (that make up protein) or fatty acids (that make up fats). The broken-down food is then absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine and the nutrients are carried to each cell in the body.

What is the process of the digestion? ›

The processes of digestion include six activities: ingestion, propulsion, mechanical or physical digestion, chemical digestion, absorption, and defecation. The first of these processes, ingestion, refers to the entry of food into the alimentary canal through the mouth.

What is the digestive system simple definition? ›

(dy-JES-tiv SIS-tem) The organs that take in food and liquids and break them down into substances that the body can use for energy, growth, and tissue repair.

What is digestion in small sentence? ›

Digestion refers to the breakdown of food into smaller components that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

What is digestion for kids? ›

Digestion is the process by which food and drink are broken down into smaller parts so that the body can use them to build and nourish cells and to provide energy.

What is an example of digestion? ›

digestion, the breakdown of food, for example, through chewing and secretions. the absorption of nutrients, which mainly occurs in the small intestine. defecation and urination, the removal of waste products through the rectum and the bladder, respectively.

What is digestive system one word answer? ›

The Digestive System is responsible for the breakdown of food in smaller components until they absorbed in body and generates energy. The tongue, salivary glands, pancreas, liver and gallbladder, intestinals etc are the imporatant parts of the digesion system.

What is the simple definition of physical digestion? ›

Physical digestion is the mechanical breakdown of food. Physical digestion in the mouth includes chewing, which masticates, or grinds, food. Chemical digestion in the mouth is done by salivary amylase which is the enzyme in the saliva that breaks down complex carbohydrates into simple sugar.

What food takes the longest to digest? ›

Meat and fish can take as long as 2 days to fully digest. The proteins and fats they contain are complex molecules that take longer for your body to pull apart. By contrast, fruits and vegetables, which are high in fiber, can move through your system in less than a day.

How to digest food in 5 minutes? ›

8 Ways to Naturally Speed Up Digestion
  1. Exercise regularly.
  2. Eat more fiber.
  3. Minimize fast food.
  4. Drink more water.
  5. Prioritize sleep.
  6. Keep stress levels low.
  7. Avoid overeating.
  8. Chew your food.
Sep 21, 2022

What are the 3 types of digestion processes? ›

The digestive system prepares nutrients for utilization by body cells through six activities, or functions.
  • Ingestion. The first activity of the digestive system is to take in food through the mouth. ...
  • Mechanical Digestion. ...
  • Chemical Digestion. ...
  • Movements. ...
  • Absorption. ...
  • Elimination.

What is digestion in simple answer? ›

(dy-JES-chun) The process of breaking down food into substances the body can use for energy, tissue growth, and repair.

How does food get digested? ›

As food passes through the GI tract, it mixes with digestive juices, causing large molecules of food to break down into smaller molecules. The body then absorbs these smaller molecules through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream, which delivers them to the rest of the body.

What is digestive system with full explanation? ›

The digestive system breaks down food into simple nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats and proteins. These can then be absorbed into your blood, so your body can use them for energy, growth and repair. Anything that isn't used is waste, and leaves the body as faeces (poo).

What is the short example of digestion? ›

digestion, the breakdown of food, for example, through chewing and secretions. the absorption of nutrients, which mainly occurs in the small intestine. defecation and urination, the removal of waste products through the rectum and the bladder, respectively.

What is digestive system in short form? ›

Your digestive system is a network of organs that help you digest and absorb nutrition from your food. It includes your gastrointestinal (GI) tract and your biliary system. Your GI tract is a series of hollow organs that are all connected to each other, leading from your mouth to your anus.

How is food digested in short answer? ›

How does digestion work? Digestion works by moving food through the GI tract. Digestion begins in the mouth with chewing and ends in the small intestine. As food passes through the GI tract, it mixes with digestive juices, causing large molecules of food to break down into smaller molecules.

What is ingestion short answer? ›

Ingestion can be referred to as an organism's consumption of a substance. In the case of human beings, when the food is taken in from the mouth and then masticated and swallowed for further processing, it is called ingestion. It takes place by absorbing substances by cell membranes in single-celled organisms.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Maia Crooks Jr

Last Updated:

Views: 5982

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Maia Crooks Jr

Birthday: 1997-09-21

Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

Phone: +2983088926881

Job: Principal Design Liaison

Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.