Digestion Process Essay

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CheckPoint Human Digestion Brad Phillips March 29, 2012 Food follows a very specific path throughout the process of digestion. First, food begins the digestion process when it enters the mouth through eating. Once in the mouth, food begins to be broke down with saliva and chewing. Saliva immediately starts to break down the sugars and starches in the food and the chewing process breaks down food into a more easily digested substance called bolus. Bolus is simply food in its chewed state. The bolus is then swallowed and enters the stomach. In the stomach, food or bolus is further digested with the stomach acids and is broken down even further to prepare to enter the intestinal tract. The stomach contracts and relaxes to push digested food into the small intestine. Once inside the small intestine, enzymes are released that allow the usable parts of the food to be absorbed into the body for energy. The first section of the small intestine where this begins is called the duodenum and the end of the small intestinal tract is known as the ileum. The ileum is where the last useable amounts of nutrients are absorbed from food. The next step in the digestive process is the large intestine. Once inside the large intestine, the process slows to allow the absorption of final nutrients and also allows bacteria to grow. All remaining nutrients and vitamins are absorbed at this stage. The remaining waste is passed thru defecation and the digestive process is

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