The Digestive System Vocabulary

Digestion

the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into small particles and molecules that your body con absorb and use.

Mechanical Digestion

when food is physically broken into smaller pieces.

Chemical Digestion

chemical reactions break down pieces of food into small molecules.

Enzymes

Proteins that help break down larger molecules into smaller molecules.

Esophagus

a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

Peristalis

Food moves through the esophagus and the rest of the digestive tract by waves of muscle contractions.

Chyme

a thin watery liquid

Villi

The folds of the small intestines are covered with fingerlike projections.