Question

What is the function of the tongue in the digestive system? How is chemical breakdown different from mechanical breakdown? Explain the process of peristalsis.

Answer 1

Answer:

13). Large molecules of food will be broken down in the mouth. During mastication of food, tongue prevents the escaping food from mouth. And tongue pushes the food into the esophagus.

14). Chemical break down of food includes enzymes digests the food (break the complex molecules into simple molecule) whereas mechanical breakdown doesn’t involves enzymes. Only teeth break the large food molecules into small.

15).

Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscle contractions that pushes the food esophagus to large intestine. The process of peristalsis begins in the esophagus when a bolus of food is swallowed. The strong wave-like motions of the smooth muscle in the esophagus carry the food to the stomach, where it is churned into a liquid mixture called chyme. It continues in the small intestine where it mixes and shifts the chyme back and forth, allowing nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the small intestine walls. It ends in the large intestine where water from the undigested food material is reabsorbed into the bloodstream. Finally, the remaining waste products are excreted from the body through the rectum.