Mechanical digestion is best described as?

Mechanical digestion is best described as?

• A. Breaking down of food into smaller pieces through chewing, muscular movements (peristalsis)
• B. Enzymatic breakdown of large molecules
• C. Absorption of nutrients
• D. Metabolic breakdown of waste

Answer: (A)

Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces. This happens when you chew with your teeth and when the stomach muscles churn and move food along (peristalsis). By breaking food into smaller parts, the surface area increases, making it easier for enzymes to act later in chemical digestion. The other options describe chemical digestion (enzymes breaking bonds), absorption of nutrients, or metabolic processing of waste, which are not about physically breaking food apart.

Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces. This happens when you chew with your teeth and when the stomach muscles churn and move food along (peristalsis). By breaking food into smaller parts, the surface area increases, making it easier for enzymes to act later in chemical digestion. The other options describe chemical digestion (enzymes breaking bonds), absorption of nutrients, or metabolic processing of waste, which are not about physically breaking food apart.