The main difference between mechanical digestion and chemical digestion is that mechanical digestion is the mechanical breakdown of large food particles into small food particles, while chemical digestion is the chemical breakdown of high-molecular substances into low-molecular substances. molecular weight.

Mechanical digestion vs. chemical digestion

Mechanical digestion generally refers to the breakdown of food primarily by teeth into digestible particles, while chemical digestion generally refers to the process by which high molecular substances in food are broken down into small, low-weight substances. molecular that can be absorbed by the body.

Mechanical digestion occurs mainly from the mouth to the stomach, while chemical digestion normally occurs from the mouth to the intestine. In mechanical digestion, a large part of this digestion occurs in the mouth; on the other hand, in chemical digestion, most of the digestion occurs in the stomach.

Mechanical digestion is powered by the teeth; Rather, various enzymes are responsible for driving chemical digestion. Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of food by chewing, while chemical digestion is the mixing of food with saliva.

In mechanical digestion, the breakdown of large food particles into small food particles occurs; On the other hand, in chemical digestion, the chemical breakdown of high molecular weight substances into low molecular weight substances occurs.

Mechanical digestion generally increases the surface area for enzymatic actions to occur in chemical digestion; conversely, chemical digestion primarily stimulates the absorption of nutrients by breaking them down into small substances.

What is mechanical digestion?

Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of large pieces of food into smaller pieces, which can then be accessed by digestive enzymes. This term means that large food particles ingested are broken down into smaller ones by chewing mainly in the mouth, stirring in the stomach, and then segmenting the particles in the small intestine.

The initial breakdown of food occurs in the mouth by the grinding actions of the teeth. This process is also called chewing or chewing. The next step involves the tongue pushing the digested food mechanically down the throat like a bolus. These boluses pass through the esophagus into the stomach.

The mechanism by which food moves through the esophagus is peristalsis. In peristalsis, rhythmic contractions and relaxation of the section of the longitudinal smooth muscles in the walls of the esophagus allow the unidirectional movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract. Through the muscular movements of the stomach, the food is mixed and gently squeezed with a digestive juice that contains different enzymes that chemically break down the food. This process is known as a shake.

What is chemical digestion?

Chemical digestion is the process by which enzymes break food down into small molecules that the body can use and absorb. It is governed by chemicals such as bile, acids, enzymes, which are secreted by the digestive tract.

The salivary glands and pancreas secrete enzymes into the lumen of the digestive tract that aid in the digestion of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. The digestion of carbohydrates is carried out by amylase, secreted by the pancreas and the salivary glands. Protein digestion is carried out by the action of the protease enzyme in the stomach at acidic pH, also secreted by the pancreas. Lipids are digested in the small intestine by lipases secreted by the pancreas. Nucleic acid is digested by nucleases secreted by the pancreas and digestion also takes place in the small intestine.

Key differences

1. Mechanical digestion is the mechanical breakdown of large food particles, while chemical digestion is the chemical breakdown of high molecular weight substances.
2. Mechanical digestion follows the path from the mouth to the stomach, whereas chemical digestion normally goes from the mouth to the intestine.
3. Most of the digestion takes place in the mouth in mechanical digestion; on the other hand, an important part of digestion occurs in the stomach in chemical digestion.
4. Mechanical digestion is driven by the teeth and tongue; Rather, various enzymes and acids are responsible for driving chemical digestion.
5. The physical breakdown of food by chewing is mechanical digestion, while chemical digestion is the mixing of food with saliva.
6. The mechanical digestion mechanism involves the breakdown of large food particles into small food particles; On the other hand, in chemical digestion, the chemical decomposition of high molecular substances into low molecular weight substances takes place.
7. Mechanical digestion plays its role in the body by increasing the surface area for enzymatic actions that occur in chemical digestion; conversely, chemical digestion primarily stimulates the absorption of nutrients by breaking them down into small substances.

The above discussion concludes that mechanical digestion occurs in the mouth and is responsible for the mechanical breakdown of food particles when chewing, while chemical digestion occurs by enzymes and is the chemical breakdown of high molecular weight substances.