Food and Digestion: Digestion Begins

The video explains the process of digestion, starting with mechanical digestion where food is physically broken down into smaller pieces. Saliva in the mouth moistens food, aiding in swallowing and beginning chemical digestion. Chemical digestion involves breaking down food with chemicals in the body. Both mechanical and chemical digestion work together throughout the digestive tract. After swallowing, food travels down the esophagus, which uses rhythmic contractions called peristalsis to move food along.

What is the process called when food is physically broken apart into smaller pieces?

How does saliva contribute to the digestion of food?

What are the two types of digestion that work together to digest food?

Describe the role of the esophagus in the digestive process.

What is peristalsis and how does it function in the digestive system?