Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[[Latin]] ''dīgest''-, participial stem of ''dīger-ĕre'' to carry asunder, [[separate]], divide, [[distribute]], [[dissolve]]

[[Latin]] ''dīgest''-, participial stem of ''dīger-ĕre'' to carry asunder, [[separate]], divide, [[distribute]], [[dissolve]]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 : the [[process]] of making [[food]] absorbable by [[dissolving]] it and breaking it down into [[simpler]] [[chemical]] compounds that occurs in the living body chiefly through the [[action]] of enzymes secreted into the alimentary canal

*1 : the [[process]] of making [[food]] absorbable by [[dissolving]] it and breaking it down into [[simpler]] [[chemical]] compounds that occurs in the living body chiefly through the [[action]] of enzymes secreted into the alimentary canal

*2 : the process in sewage treatment by which [[organic]] [[matter]] in sludge is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria with the release of a burnable mixture of [[gases]]

*2 : the process in sewage treatment by which [[organic]] [[matter]] in sludge is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria with the release of a burnable mixture of [[gases]]

==Description==

==Description==

'''Digestion''' is the [[mechanical]] and [[chemical]] breakdown of [[food]] into smaller components that are more easily absorbed into a [[blood]] stream, for instance. Digestion is a form of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catabolism catabolism]: a breakdown of large food [[molecules]] to smaller ones.

'''Digestion''' is the [[mechanical]] and [[chemical]] breakdown of [[food]] into smaller components that are more easily absorbed into a [[blood]] stream, for instance. Digestion is a form of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catabolism catabolism]: a breakdown of large food [[molecules]] to smaller ones.

When [[food]] enters the mouth, its digestion starts by the action of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastication mastication], a form of [[mechanical]] digestion, and the contact of [[saliva]]. Saliva, which is secreted by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salivary_glands salivary glands], contains [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salivary_amylase salivary amylase], an enzyme which starts the digestion of starch in the food. After undergoing mastication and starch digestion, the food will now be in the form of a small, round mass, called a Bolus (It will then travel down the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophagus esophagus] and into the stomach by the [[action]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristalsis peristalsis]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_juice Gastric juice] in the stomach starts protein digestion. Gastric juice mainly contains [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrochloric_acid hydrochloric acid] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsin pepsin]. As these two [[chemicals]] may damage the stomach wall, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mucus mucus] is secreted by the stomach, providing a slimy layer that acts as a shield against the damaging [[effects]] of the chemicals. At the same time protein digestion is occurring, [[mechanical]] mixing occurs by peristalsis, which are [[waves]] of muscular contractions that move along the stomach wall. This allows the mass of [[food]] to further mix with the digestive enzymes. After some time (typically an hour or two in humans, 4–6 hours in dogs, somewhat shorter duration in house cats), the resulting thick liquid is called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chyme chyme]. When the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pylorus pyloric sphincter valve] opens, chyme enters the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duodenum duodenum] where it mixes with digestive enzymes from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreas pancreas], and then passes through the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_intestine small intestine], in which digestion continues. When the chyme is fully digested, it is [[absorbed]] into the [[blood]]. 95% of absorption of nutrients occurs in the small intestine. Water and minerals are reabsorbed back into the blood in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_(anatomy) colon] (large intestine). Some vitamins, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotin biotin] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_K vitamin K] (K2MK7) produced by bacteria in the colon are also absorbed into the blood in the colon. [[Waste]] material is eliminated during [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defecation defecation].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestion]

When [[food]] enters the mouth, its digestion starts by the action of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastication mastication], a form of [[mechanical]] digestion, and the contact of [[saliva]]. Saliva, which is secreted by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salivary_glands salivary glands], contains [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salivary_amylase salivary amylase], an enzyme which starts the digestion of starch in the food. After undergoing mastication and starch digestion, the food will now be in the form of a small, round mass, called a Bolus (It will then travel down the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophagus esophagus] and into the stomach by the [[action]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristalsis peristalsis]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_juice Gastric juice] in the stomach starts protein digestion. Gastric juice mainly contains [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrochloric_acid hydrochloric acid] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsin pepsin]. As these two [[chemicals]] may damage the stomach wall, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mucus mucus] is secreted by the stomach, providing a slimy layer that acts as a shield against the damaging [[effects]] of the chemicals. At the same time protein digestion is occurring, [[mechanical]] mixing occurs by peristalsis, which are [[waves]] of muscular contractions that move along the stomach wall. This allows the mass of [[food]] to further mix with the digestive enzymes. After some time (typically an hour or two in humans, 4–6 hours in dogs, somewhat shorter duration in house cats), the resulting thick liquid is called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chyme chyme]. When the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pylorus pyloric sphincter valve] opens, chyme enters the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duodenum duodenum] where it mixes with digestive enzymes from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreas pancreas], and then passes through the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_intestine small intestine], in which digestion continues. When the chyme is fully digested, it is [[absorbed]] into the [[blood]]. 95% of absorption of nutrients occurs in the small intestine. Water and minerals are reabsorbed back into the blood in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_(anatomy) colon] (large intestine). Some vitamins, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotin biotin] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_K vitamin K] (K2MK7) produced by bacteria in the colon are also absorbed into the blood in the colon. [[Waste]] material is eliminated during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defecation defecation].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestion]

[[Category: Biology]]

[[Category: Biology]]

[[Category: Health]]

[[Category: Health]]