Question:
What is mechanical digestion?
Answer:
Mechanical digestion refers to the physical breakdown of food into smaller particles, without changing its chemical composition. This process begins in the mouth with the grinding and crushing of food by the teeth, and continues in the stomach and small intestine with the churning and mixing of food by muscular contractions. The smaller particles created by mechanical digestion increase the surface area of the food, allowing for better exposure to digestive enzymes and facilitating absorption of nutrients.