digestion

ingestion

the process of taking in food through the mouth, where it is chewed and mixed with saliva.

propulsion

 involves the movement of food through the digestive tract, starting with swallowing and continuing with peristalsis.

mechanical digestion

breaks food into smaller pieces through chewing and churning in the stomach.

chemical digestion

 involves enzymes breaking down food molecules into simpler forms, facilitated by saliva, stomach acids, and pancreatic enzymes. 

absorption

occurs primarily in the small intestine, where nutrients from digested food are absorbed into the bloodstream.

defecation

is the elimination of indigestible substances and waste from the body in the form of feces, regulated by the rectum and anus through a combination of voluntary and involuntary actions.