Physical Digestion: Breaking Food into Bite-Sized Pieces

Physical digestion is like chopping food into smaller pieces before cooking it—no chemicals involved, just mechanical work! Let’s dive into how the body uses physical digestion to prepare food for further breakdown and absorption.

 

What is Physical Digestion?

Physical digestion is the process of breaking food into smaller pieces without changing its chemical structure.

Why is Physical Digestion Important?

• It increases the surface area of food so enzymes can work more effectively during chemical digestion.

 

Main Processes of Physical Digestion

Chewing (Mastication):

• Happens in the mouth.
• Teeth break food into smaller pieces, making it easier to swallow and digest.

Churning in the Stomach:

• The stomach muscles contract to mix and break food into smaller pieces.

Emulsification by Bile:

• Bile (produced by the liver) breaks large fat globules into tiny droplets, increasing their surface area for enzyme action.