mastication

Examples of mastication in the following topics:

• Ingestion

  • Once in the mouth, the teeth, saliva, and tongue play important roles in mastication (preparing the food into bolus).
  • Mastication, or chewing, is an extremely important part of the digestive process, especially for fruits and vegetables, as these have indigestible cellulose coats which must be physically broken down.
  • Ingested food must be broken down into small pieces by mastication, or chewing.

• Vertebrate Digestive Systems

  • Birds have developed a digestive system adapted to eating un-masticated (un-chewed) food.
  • The teeth play an important role in masticating (chewing) or physically breaking down food into smaller particles.
  • They do not have teeth, so their digestive system must be able to process un-masticated food .

• Digestive System: Mouth and Stomach

  • The food is broken into smaller particles by mastication, the chewing action of the teeth.
  • Food is masticated by teeth and moistened by saliva secreted from the (b) salivary glands.