What is mechanical digestion?

• A. Absorption
• B. Secretion
• C. Physical
• D. Chemical

Answer: (C)

Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces without changing its chemical structure. It includes actions like chewing with the teeth, grinding in the stomach, and mixing movements in the gut that break food apart and increase its surface area. This prepares food for chemical digestion, where enzymes and acids actually break chemical bonds to release nutrients. So, the term that best describes this physical, non-chemical process is mechanical digestion. Absorption is taking nutrients into the body, secretion is releasing digestive substances, and chemical digestion involves enzymatic and acidic break down of molecules.