**Digestion: Breaking Down of Food Inside the Body**

**Introduction**
Digestion is the process by which our body breaks down food into smaller, simpler substances that can be absorbed and utilized by the body. It involves both mechanical and chemical processes that occur in different organs of the digestive system.

**Mechanical Digestion**
Mechanical digestion refers to the physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces without changing its chemical composition. The process starts in the mouth with chewing and continues in the stomach through muscle contractions and churning.

1. **Chewing (Mastication)**
- Chewing is the first step of mechanical digestion, which occurs in the mouth.
- The teeth break down the food into smaller pieces, increasing its surface area for better chemical digestion.
- The tongue and saliva also help in the process by moistening and lubricating the food.

**Chemical Digestion**
Chemical digestion refers to the breakdown of food into simpler molecules through the action of enzymes and other digestive substances. It occurs mainly in the stomach and small intestine.

2. **Stomach**
- After swallowing, the food enters the stomach where it is mixed with gastric juices.
- Gastric juices contain hydrochloric acid and enzymes like pepsin, which break down proteins into amino acids.
- The stomach muscles contract and mix the food, turning it into a semi-liquid mixture called chyme.

3. **Small Intestine**
- The chyme moves into the small intestine, where most of the chemical digestion takes place.
- The pancreas secretes pancreatic juices containing enzymes that further break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
- The liver produces bile, which helps in the digestion and absorption of fats.
- The lining of the small intestine contains numerous finger-like projections called villi, which increase the surface area for absorption.

**Conclusion**
In summary, the process of breaking down food inside the body is called digestion, which involves both mechanical and chemical processes. Mechanical digestion starts with chewing, while chemical digestion occurs in the stomach and small intestine with the help of enzymes and digestive juices. Through digestion, the body is able to extract nutrients from the food and convert them into energy for various bodily functions.

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