What is digestion?Digestion can be defined as the complex breakdown of food into forms that our bodies can use. Our bodies use food as fuel to provide energy for work, play and growth. Your digestive system is responsible for converting the food we eat into energy for our bodies to use.
Chemical Digestion Chemical digestion involves
breaking down the food into simpler nutrients that can be used by the cells.
Chemical digestion begins in the mouth when food mixes with saliva.
Saliva contains an enzyme (amylase) that begins the breakdown of carbohydrates.
Mechanical or Physical DigestionMechanical digestion starts
in the mouth by chewing, swallowing and the muscular movements that move food through the digestive tract.
Mechanical digestion support chemical digestion by physically breaking whole foods into smaller pieces to facilitate chemical breakdown.
Physical and Chemical Digestionbodyparts
Ph level
mouth neutral 7
stomach acidic 1.5 – 2.5
mou
th
stom
ach
smal
l int
estin
e
larg
e in
test
ine
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
digestion
lipasetripaserenin