At the digestion process, the ingested food is broken down into smaller particles so that it can be used by the cells. During the process, several structures act to degrade the food, such as teeth. In addition, several enzymes are present, such as salivary amylase and pepsin. The digestion process begins in the mouth, where, in the chewing process, the so-called bolus is formed.
→ What is and how is the food cake formed?
When the food reaches the mouth, it starts the digestion process. First, it is broken by the teeth and starts to be mixed, with the help of the tongue, to the Spittle, which causes its humidification. Saliva has an enzyme called salivary amylase, mucus, salts and other substances. Due to the presence of amylase, which is capable of breaking down starch, the digestion of carbohydrates starts in the mouth.
With the action of saliva, tongue and teeth, the food becomes a soft paste, which is called food bolus. The bolus is the name given, therefore, to food that is chewed and mixed with saliva.
→ What is the path taken by the food cake?
The bolus is formed in the mouth and driven by the tongue into the pharynx. From the pharynx, the bolus goes to the esophagus and, through peristaltic movements, it is taken to the stomach. The process responsible for taking the bolus from the mouth to the stomach is called Deglutition.
The tongue pushes the food towards the pharynx
In the stomach, the food bolus undergoes the action of substances present in the gastric juice secreted by cells in the stomach wall itself. The bolus, after entering the stomach, where it is partially digested and transformed into a semi-liquid mass with an acid pH, is now called chyme,
The chyme then proceeds to the small intestine, where it undergoes the action of enzymes from the enteric juice and the pancreatic juice. After the action of these enzymes, the chyme becomes a whitish liquid, which is called kilo. After passing through the small intestine, what was not used by the body goes to the large intestine, where feces will form, which will later be eliminated in the process of defecation.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/biologia/o-que-e-bolo-alimentar.htm