Digestion

• Digestion is the process of breaking down food into smaller molecules to be absorbed by the body.
• It is the process of taking in food into the mouth and the gastrointestinal tract. ingestion
• Food must then be moved from the mouth into the gastrointestinal tract. This movement involves a process called propuision.

  The act of swallowing food is a voluntary type of propuision.
• Digestion can be divided into two: mechanical and chemical digestion.
• Mechanical digestion is the process of breaking down food physically into smaller pieces without chemical reactions taking place. The mastication of food done by teeth is an example of mechanical digestion.
• Segmentation is another example of mechanical digestion done by the small intestinal muscles. It is the action of moving food back and forth the intestine.
• This action helps food to mix with digestive juices for further degradation in preparation for absorption.
• Absorption in the small intestine happens when nutrients coming from the digested food are absorbed and transported into the bloodstream.
• capillaries and lacteals present in the villi and microvilli absorb these nutrients. Absorption
• Assimilation, It involves the movement of nutrients absorbed by the blood.
• Assimilation is an important process for the synthesis of essential compounds, such as hormones and enzymes, for the body to function well.
• Excretion . Feces is formed upon the absorption of excess water in the chyme. Feces contains indigestible materials like cellulosic fiber from plants, small amounts of water, mucus, and a large number of bacteria.
• The action of the saliva and physical breakdown of food is part of ingestion.
• Fatty acids accumulate into the cells to form fats, amino acids to form proteins, and monosaccharides to form polysaccharides (glycogen for animals]. Assimilation
• Assimilation is an important process for the synthesis of essential compounds, such as hormones and enzymes, for the body to function well.
• Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that absorb water-soluble nutrients such as glucose and amino acids.
• Lacteals are lymphatic vessels which absorb fatty acids and glycerol.