BASIC TYPES OF DIGESTION, BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Abstract

Only such food components that are absorbed from the digestive tract into the internal environment can be included in the metabolic processes of the body. Therefore, food consisting of proteins, fats and carbohydrates must undergo both mechanical and chemical processing in the digestive system. Solid food is subjected to mechanical crushing, grinding with the help of teeth in the human oral cavity. For further digestion, it is very important that the grinding of food is carried out carefully, since in this case the small components of the food become more accessible for the action of enzymes. Numerous enzymes ensure the breakdown of polymeric nutrients to monomers. The following types of enzymes are distinguished: proteases (or proteolytic enzymes) carry out the gradual hydrolysis of peptide bonds in protein molecules of varying complexity.