answersLogoWhite

0

The mouth is the first place digestion takes place.

Your teeth break down the food into smaller pieces, while this is happening your saliva (secreted from the salivary glands) starts to chemically break down the food. Saliva is composed of 98% water and 2% electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds, and various enzymes.

These enzymes in the saliva break down some of the starch and fat in the food at the molecular level.

Saliva also breaks down food caught in the teeth, protecting them from bacteria that cause decay.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What parts in the mouth aid in digestion?

Every part of the mouth aids in digestion. This includes the tongue and teeth. The mouth is responsible for the first part of digestion.


What is the role of the mouth?

The mouth is responsible for functions such as ingestion of food, mechanical digestion (chewing), and initiation of the digestion process through the production of saliva, which contains enzymes that break down food. Additionally, the mouth is crucial for vocalization and communication through speech.


Which parts of the digestive system aid in chemical digestion?

Is the stomach but begins in the mouth.


Which best described the role of the esophagus in digestion?

It carries food from the mouth to the stomach.


Which best describes the role of the esophagus in the digestion?

It carries food from the mouth to the stomach.


What role does the esophagus play in the digestion of food?

It carries the food from your mouth to your stomach


Which describes the best role of the esophagus in digestion?

It carries food from the mouth to the stomach.


What body parts is not involved in mechanical digestion?

Chemical digestion takes place in the stomach, the intestines, (saliva or enzymes) these parts of your body also use mechanical digestion.


Which parts of the system started the digestion?

The first step in digestion occurs in the mouth where enzymes in the saliva begin to break down food ready for the stomach.


What are the six main parts of the digestive tract known as?

The six main parts of the digestive tract are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. Each part plays a specific role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients from food.


What parts of the body are involved in digestion?

The mouth, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, small intestine, and large intestine are involved in digestion.


What is the role of your lips in digestion?

The role of your lips in the digestive process is basically nothing. The only role that comes to mind is to keep all the food you are chewing from coming out of your mouth.