MASTICATION

Mastication

Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of digestion and it increases the surface area of foods to allow more efficient break down by enzymes. During the mastication process, the food is positioned between the teeth for grinding by the cheek and tongue. As chewing continues, the food is made softer and warmer, and the enzymes in saliva begin to break down carbohydrates in the food. After chewing, the food is swallowed. It enters the esophagus and via peristalsis continues on to the stomach, where the next step of digestion occurs.

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mastication

Noun

  1. The process of chewing.
  2. The process of crushing as though chewed.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: mastication
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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