GASTRIC DIGESTION Meaning and
Definition
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Gastric digestion refers to the process of breaking down food through chemical and mechanical processes within the stomach. It is an essential step in the overall process of digestion, which is necessary for the body to obtain nutrients from the food we consume. Gastric digestion begins as soon as food enters the stomach and continues until it is converted into a semi-liquid substance known as chyme.
The stomach plays a crucial role in gastric digestion by producing gastric juice, which comprises various enzymes and hydrochloric acid. These components help to break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates present in the food into smaller molecules, such as amino acids, fatty acids, and simple sugars, respectively. The mechanical aspect of gastric digestion involves the stomach's muscular contractions, which churn and mix the food with gastric juice to enhance the breakdown process.
Gastric digestion is predominantly focused on protein digestion. The enzyme pepsin, present in the gastric juice, begins the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides. The acidic environment of the stomach, created by hydrochloric acid, facilitates the activation of pepsin and optimal protein digestion.
Overall, gastric digestion is an essential step in the process of food digestion, wherein the stomach chemically and mechanically breaks down food into smaller particles. This allows for better absorption and utilization of nutrients within the body.
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That part of digestion, chiefly of the proteins, which is carried on in the stomach by the enzymes of the gastric juice.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for GASTRIC DIGESTION
- fastric digestion
- vastric digestion
- bastric digestion
- hastric digestion
- yastric digestion
- tastric digestion
- gzstric digestion
- gsstric digestion
- gwstric digestion
- gqstric digestion
- gaatric digestion
- gaztric digestion
- gaxtric digestion
- gadtric digestion
- gaetric digestion
- gawtric digestion
- gasrric digestion
- gasfric digestion
- gasgric digestion
Etymology of GASTRIC DIGESTION
The word "gastric" is derived from the Latin word "gaster" which means "stomach". "Digestion" comes from the Latin word "digestio" which means "the act of breaking down". Therefore, "gastric digestion" refers to the process of breaking down food within the stomach.
Similar spelling words for GASTRIC DIGESTION
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