Mastication

Definition

Mastication is the process of chewing food to break it down into smaller, more digestible pieces via mechanical actions of the teeth and jaw muscles. This process is crucial for the initial stage of digestion, facilitating enzyme action and swallowing.

Related terms

Saliva: A digestive fluid secreted by salivary glands in the mouth that moistens food and begins the chemical digestion of carbohydrates.

Enzymes:

Biological molecules that significantly speed up the rate of virtually all of the chemical reactions that take place within cells, including those involved in digestion.

Bolus:

The mass of chewed food at the moment of swallowing, prepared by the process of mastication combined with salivation