what are the major steps involved in the process of digestion
Answers
The major steps in digestion are;
Ingestion
The large molecules found in intact food cannot pass through the cell membranes. Food needs to be broken into smaller particles so that animals can harness the nutrients and organic molecules. The first step in this process is ingestion. Ingestion is the process of taking in food through the mouth. In vertebrates, the teeth, saliva, and tongue play important roles in mastication (preparing the food into bolus). While the food is being mechanically broken down, the enzymes in saliva begin to chemically process the food as well. The combined action of these processes modifies the food from large particles to a soft mass that can be swallowed and can travel the length of the esophagus.
Digestion
Digestion is the mechanical and chemical break down of food into small organic fragments. It is important to break down macromolecules into smaller fragments that are of suitable size for absorption across the digestive epithelium. Large, complex molecules of proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids must be reduced to simpler particles such as simple sugar before they can be absorbed by the digestive epithelial cells. Different organs play specific roles in the digestive process. The animal diet needs carbohydrates, protein, and fat, as well as vitamins and inorganic components for nutritional balance.
Absorption and Assimilation
After the action of the gastric juices, the chyme goes to the small intestine where , further digestion takes place. Due to the various movements of this organ, the chyme is further mixed and churned. There are many enzymes that are secreted into the small intestine from organs such as pancreas, liver; apart from the intestinal juices. All these react with the food particles and digest them into smaller particles that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
In the large intestine, the digestion activity is significantly less. Here, bacterial action on the leftover food particles occurs. Minerals, water, and certain drugs are absorbed in the large intestine. The mucus secreted by the large intestine helps in holding the waste particles, apart from lubricating it.
Egestion
The final step in digestion is the elimination of undigested food content and waste products. The undigested food material enters the colon, where most of the water is reabsorbed. Recall that the colon is also home to the microflora called “intestinal flora” that aid in the digestion process. The semi-solid waste is moved through the colon by peristaltic movements of the muscle and is stored in the rectum. As the rectum expands in response to storage of fecal matter, it triggers the neural signals required to set up the urge to eliminate. The solid waste is eliminated through the anus using peristaltic movements of the rectum.
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