What are the six main processes of the digestive system?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify that the digestive system is responsible for breaking down food into nutrients that the body can absorb and use.
2. Understand that the six main processes of the digestive system describe the sequence of actions that food undergoes from ingestion to elimination.
3. List the first process: Ingestion, which is the act of taking food into the mouth.
4. List the second process: Propulsion, which includes swallowing and the movement of food through the digestive tract via peristalsis.
5. List the third process: Mechanical digestion, involving physical breakdown of food by chewing and churning in the stomach.
6. List the fourth process: Chemical digestion, where enzymes break down complex molecules into simpler ones.
7. List the fifth process: Absorption, the process by which nutrients pass through the lining of the digestive tract into the bloodstream or lymph.
8. List the sixth process: Defecation, the elimination of indigestible substances and waste as feces.

Key Concepts

Ingestion

Ingestion is the process of taking food into the mouth, where it begins the journey through the digestive system. It involves chewing and mixing food with saliva to form a manageable bolus for swallowing.

Digestion

Digestion refers to the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into smaller molecules. Mechanical digestion includes chewing and churning, while chemical digestion involves enzymes breaking down complex molecules like proteins and carbohydrates.

Absorption

Absorption is the process by which nutrients from digested food pass through the lining of the intestines into the bloodstream or lymph. This allows the body to utilize these nutrients for energy, growth, and repair.