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Creating Your Concept Map Posts

1. Choose either a plant or animal digestive process to explain

2. Create a post in the appropriate section (Plant or Animal Digestion)

3. In your post:

Write the name of the specific digestive process/stage

Explain how it works

Add an image or diagram to illustrate the process

4. Link your post to related processes by mentioning them in your explanation

Remember : Each post should focus on one specific stage or process of digestion.

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The illustration shows the parts of a dog's digestive system that are necessary for the process of digestion

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Digestion: It is the process of breaking down food molecules into smaller, soluble ones that the body can absorb. There are two primary mechanisms involved in the digestion of animals. Mechanical digestion is the process of breaking down food into smaller pieces. For example, chewing in the mouth makes it easier to break down the molecules for enzymes and a larger surface area for food. The second one is chemical digestion: the process that also includes enzymes for the breakdown of chemical bonds in the food molecules. Enzymes are different from one another and also target different types of molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The saliva in the mouth contains amylase that starts the breakdown of carbohydrates. The stomach secretes hydrochloric acid and pepsin, which starts the breakdown of proteins. The small intestine is the primary site for chemical digestion, which further breaks down the foods. Chemical digestion, shortly, means having chemicals involved in breaking down the foods. Each process in the animal digestion has a significant contribution to the whole process. Such as ingestion, let's take it as an example. It is the process where the body takes the food, usually through the mouth. Simply, the first step is taking the nutrients that are needed. Another one is absorption, which is the moment of only taking in or filtering the necessary nutrients for the body. These two are closely related to the process of digestion. Furthermore, they are all connected.

Reference: Team, E. (2025, March 9). What is the order of digestion in animals? The Environmental Literacy Council. https://enviroliteracy.org/animals/what-is-the-order-of-digestion-in-animals/#:~:text=Simply%20put%2C%20the%20digestive%20process%20typically%20follows%20this,Digestion%20%28mechanical%20and%20chemical%29%2C%20Absorption%2C%20Assimilation%2C%20and%20Egestion.

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Chewing or Mastication: The First Bite of Digestion

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Chewing or Mastication: The First Bite of Digestion

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How does this process works?

Digestion starts way before the food even hits your stomach. It all begins with chewing, or mastication. Think about it,you wouldn't just gulp down a whole carrot, would you? Chewing is the first step in breaking down your food mechanically.

During chewing, the lower jaw moves up and down and side to side to help break up solid food particles so they can be absorbed more readily (Shearin, 2022).

Your teeth are like a tiny, amazing food-processing group. We have the incisors that serves as cutters, the canines that tear things apart, and the molars that do the grinding.

The more you chew, the smaller the food pieces get, and that's important because it increases the surface area of the food. This means there's more space for those digestive enzymes to work later on.

Your tongue isn't just for tasting, it's a food mixer. It helps mix everything up with saliva, making a nice, soft bolus- other term for chewed-up food mass. And that saliva isn't just water, it has an enzyme called amylase that starts breaking down starches into simpler sugars (Akinfemiwa et al., 2023).

Now, why is all this chewing so important?

Well, If you don't chew properly, you will have a harder time digesting your food that can cause harder time for stomach and intestines, which can lead to indigestion and other problems. Additionally, if the food isn't broken down enough, you won't be able absorb all the nutrients. After chewing, the prepared bolus travels down the esophagus and to the stomach, where the next stage of digestion begins. It's all a carefully orchestrated process. That begins with chewing, that's why chewing is important!

References:

Akinfemiwa, O., Muniraj, T., & Zubair, M. (2023, November 12). Amylase.

PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557738/

Chewing and swallowing: Video, Anatomy & Definition. (2025). Osmosis. retrieved from

https://www.osmosis.org/learn/Chewing_and_swallowing

‌Patel (2022). Study.com. retrieved from

https://study.com/learn/lesson/mastication-process-muscles.html

Shearin, C. (2022, June 7). Do you Know How to Chew? - Danville Family Dentistry. Danville Family

Dentistry. retrieved from https://danvilledentalcare.com/do-you-know-how-to-chew/

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