REMASTICATION Meaning and
Definition
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Remastication is a term derived from the combination of the prefix "re-" which indicates repetition, and the word "mastication" meaning the process of chewing food. It refers to the act of masticating or chewing food for a second time after it has already been partially digested and softened due to saliva and gastric juices in the digestive system.
Remastication is commonly practiced by certain animals, particularly ruminants such as cows, goats, and sheep, who possess a complex digestive system specifically adapted for this purpose. These animals are known to regurgitate previously swallowed food from their rumen, the first compartment of their stomach, and then extensively chew it in a process called "chewing the cud" or "rumination." This allows them to break down the fibrous components of plant matter more effectively, optimizing nutrient extraction and facilitating easier digestion.
During remastication, the food is thoroughly chewed to further break down the fibers, promoting better access to the nutrients contained within. Additionally, the process of remastication also enhances the mixing of the food with saliva, which contains digestive enzymes that aid in the breakdown of carbohydrates and the initiation of the digestive process.
Remastication is an essential part of the digestive strategy for certain animals, enabling them to efficiently extract nutrients from fibrous plant material and support their unique dietary needs.
Common Misspellings for REMASTICATION
- eemastication
- demastication
- femastication
- temastication
- 5emastication
- 4emastication
- rwmastication
- rsmastication
- rdmastication
- rrmastication
- r4mastication
- r3mastication
- renastication
- rekastication
- rejastication
- remzstication
- remsstication
- remwstication
- remqstication
- remaatication
Etymology of REMASTICATION
The word "remastication" is derived from the Latin word "re-" which means "again" or "back", and the word "mastication" which comes from the Latin word "masticare" meaning "to chew".
"Mastication" originally referred to the process of chewing food in order to break it down into smaller pieces that are easier to swallow and digest. The addition of the prefix "re-" in "remastication" indicates the act of chewing again or chewing something that has already been chewed once before.
"Remastication" is often used in the context of certain animals, such as cows or other ruminants, which have a digestive system that involves regurgitating previously swallowed feed and chewing it again to aid in digestion.
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