Tour of the Human Body Systems

The Tour Starts Here!

The Immune System
The Nervous System
The Excretory System
The Respiratory System
The Circulatory Syatem
The Digestive System
The Skeletal System
The Muscular System
Glossary of Terms
Chemical and Mechanical Digestion

 
Mechanical Digestion
 
The process of food being broken down by the teeth.The large pieces of food that are eaten have to be broken into smaller pieces that can be broken up by various enzymes. This is mechanical digestion, which begins in the mouth with chewing

Similarities
 
Both use enzymes to help break down food

 
Chemical Digestion
 
The complex molecules of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are transformed by chemical digestion into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and utilized by the cells. Chemical digestion, through a process called hydrolysis, uses water and digestive enzymes to break down the molecules. Enzymes speed the process.