Digestive System: Processing Food

What is the primary function of salivary amylase in the digestion process?

What is the purpose of peristaltic movements in the digestive system?

What is the role of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?

What is the function of mucus in the stomach?

What is the primary function of the tongue in the digestion process?

What is the role of gastric glands in the stomach?

What is the function of the oesophagus in the digestion process?

What happens when we eat something we like?

Digestion Process

Food is processed to generate small particles of the same texture through crushing with teeth and wetting with saliva to facilitate smooth passage through the digestive tract.
Saliva contains an enzyme called salivary amylase that breaks down starch into simple sugar.
The muscular tongue mixes food with saliva and moves it around the mouth during chewing.

Movement of Food through the Digestive Tract

The lining of the digestive canal has muscles that contract rhythmically to push food forward through peristaltic movements.
Food is moved in a regulated manner along the digestive tube to ensure proper processing in each part.

Digestion in the Stomach

The stomach is a large organ that expands when food enters it and has muscular walls that help in mixing food thoroughly with digestive juices.
Gastric glands in the stomach wall release hydrochloric acid, a protein-digesting enzyme called pepsin, and mucus.
Hydrochloric acid creates an acidic medium that facilitates the action of the enzyme pepsin, and also helps to kill bacteria and other pathogens.
Mucus protects the inner lining of the stomach from the action of the acid under normal conditions.

This quiz covers the initial stages of digestion, including the importance of teeth in crushing food, the role of saliva in the digestive process, and the passage of food through the digestive canal.