digestion in the mouth parts?
Answer (2)
Digestion in the mouth starts with both mechanical and chemical processes. Here's how it works:Mechanical Digestion:The teeth break down food into smaller pieces through chewing, which increases the surface area for enzymes to act on.The tongue helps mix the food with saliva, aiding in the formation of a bolus (a ball of chewed food).Chemical Digestion:Saliva: The salivary glands secrete saliva, which contains the enzyme amylase. This enzyme starts the breakdown of starches (complex carbohydrates) into simpler sugars like maltose.Lysozyme: This enzyme in saliva also helps break down bacterial cell walls, contributing to oral hygiene.Once the food is sufficiently mixed and broken down, it forms a bolus that is swallowed and moves down the esophagus into the stomach for further digestion.
ical processes. Teeth physically break down food into smaller pieces, while saliva containing digestive enzymes, particularly amylase, begins to break down carbohydrates. This initial digestion prepares the food for further processing in the rest of the digestive system. Here's a more detailed breakdown:1. Mechanical Digestion:Teeth:Teeth, specifically incisors (cutting), canines (tearing), and molars (grinding), physically break down food into smaller pieces, increasing the surface area for chemical digestion. This process is called mastication. Tongue:The tongue helps mix food with saliva and shapes it into a bolus, a ball of food, for swallowing. Saliva:Saliva not only contains enzymes but also moistens the food, making it easier to swallow. 2. Chemical Digestion:Salivary Amylase:This enzyme, found in saliva, starts the breakdown of carbohydrates (starches) into simpler sugars, like glucose. Lingual Lipase:Another enzyme in saliva, lingual lipase, also plays a minor role in fat digestion. 3. Other Processes:Swallowing:Once the food is broken down and mixed with saliva, the tongue and muscles of the mouth and pharynx push the bolus into the esophagus. Taste:Taste buds on the tongue detect flavors, which can stimulate the production of saliva and gastric juices, aiding digestion.
