Mechanical v Chemical Digestion
Science
The difference between Mechanical and Chemical Digestion
What are the differences between mechanical and chemical digestion? Well, there are two major types of digestion, mechanical and chemical. And mechanical first can be thought of of the churning pushing and pulling food apart down into smaller particles. So we'll make food small, but this has to do with not changing any chemical nature. In the food. So think about your mouth while eating. What organs would help you turn the food? As you can see in this picture, these teeth are incredibly useful for breaking down food. And also, you can imagine the churning nature of the stomach. The stomach actually is lined with incredible layers of muscle, smooth muscle tissue, which actually churn the food and break it down into smaller pieces.
The next type of digestion takes place in the mouth, stomach, and small intestines. And this is chemical digestion. Chemical digestion involves chemical changes of food. So even before you start eating, your brain actually signals for the release of certain enzymes in the mouth. And this starts the process of chemical digestion and enzyme known as salivary amylase, will break down carbohydrates into simple sugars called monosaccharides. So that's the first step of chemical digestion in the mouth with carbohydrates. The second step in the stomach enzymes called pepsin, for example, will break down proteins. Into smaller individual components, such as amino acids. But what about fats? Well, fats start to be broken down in the stomach. Using a substance called bile. But it is finally broken down into its components such as fatty acids in the small intestine. Using pancreatic enzymes.
The fats are finally broken down into smaller pieces in this small intestine. And for up to 40, excuse me, 24 hours, the food will travel through the small intestine and digestive enzymes released will break down these foods. So thanks to remember, mechanical digestion as in the picture on the left, think M for movement, teething, teeth crushing, food, and pushing, pulling force. But it's not a chemical change and then chemical digestion using enzymes or even an acidic environment to break down foods. Carbs mainly in the mouth, proteins, mainly in stomach, and fats may need a small intestine. As a unit, mechanical and chemical digestion work to help us get the vital nutrients we need to survive.