ABSTRACT
Digestion is the process by which the body breaks down food into nutrients, which are essential for normal bodily functions. Digestion begins at the mouth, where food enters the body, and ends at the anus, where waste and undigested products leave the body. The tongue moves food around the mouth, mixing it with saliva that moistens and coats the food for easy movement down the oesophagus upon swallowing. The chewed food mixed with saliva is called the bolus. Muscular rings that open or close to control passage of food along the digestive tract. The wave-like contractions of the longitudinal muscles of the digestive tract that propels food forward. Food is propelled along the digestive tract by peristalsis and enzymes are responsible for the breakdown of macromolecules into simple molecules. Many hormones regulate this process, which can also be impacted by exercise duration and intensity.
