PREDIGESTION Meaning and
Definition
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Predigestion is a physiological process that occurs in the digestive system before the main process of digestion takes place. It involves the breakdown of food into simpler forms, such as small molecules and nutrients, by various enzymes and acids. This preliminary breakdown occurs typically in the mouth and stomach, allowing for easier and more efficient digestion and absorption of nutrients in the later stages.
During predigestion, the food is subject to mechanical and chemical processes that start breaking it down into smaller particles. Firstly, in the mouth, through the process of chewing and mixing with saliva, the food is mechanically broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Saliva also contains enzymes that initiate the chemical breakdown of carbohydrates.
Next, the food passes through the esophagus to reach the stomach, where it encounters stomach acid and other enzymes. The acidic environment of the stomach helps to further break down proteins and activate enzymes that will aid in their digestion. This chemical breakdown results in the formation of chyme, a partially digested food mixture.
Overall, predigestion prepares the larger food particles for further digestion and absorption in the intestines. By breaking down the food into smaller forms, it enhances the efficiency of digestion and allows for better extraction of nutrients from the ingested material.
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The artificial initiation of digestion of proteins (proteolysis) and starches (amylolysis) before they are eaten.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PREDIGESTION
- oredigestion
- lredigestion
- -redigestion
- 0redigestion
- peedigestion
- pdedigestion
- pfedigestion
- ptedigestion
- p5edigestion
- p4edigestion
- prwdigestion
- prsdigestion
- prddigestion
- prrdigestion
- pr4digestion
- pr3digestion
- presigestion
- prexigestion
- precigestion
- prefigestion
Etymology of PREDIGESTION
The word "predigestion" comes from the combination of two terms: "pre-" and "digestion".
The prefix "pre-" comes from the Latin word "prae", meaning "before" or "in advance". It indicates something that occurs beforehand or prior to something else.
The term "digestion" stems from the Latin word "digestio", which itself comes from "digestus", the past participle of "digero", meaning "to divide", "to distribute", or "to arrange". In this context, digestion refers to the process of breaking down food in the stomach and intestines into simpler substances that can be absorbed by the body.
Therefore, "predigestion" combines the prefix "pre-", meaning "before", with "digestion", referring to the process of breaking down food. It signifies the action of breaking down food or treating it in some way before it undergoes the normal process of digestion.
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