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The Human Body:
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Oral Cavity
It starts in the oral cavity, where the teeth and the tongue lies. Food is being chewed and sent to the rest of the system by way of the gullet, otherwise known as the esophagus. The functions of the oral cavity(mouth) are Mastication ,Secretion of saliva and Taste. Mastication is the chewing with teeth to break down the food into smaller and easily swallowable (Deglutition) portions. It also helps to break off the undigestible cellulose coatings of fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, it increases the surface area of the food particles, making it easier for them to be digested by the digestive enzymes, and , it brings it into contact with taste receptors and releases odors that stimulate the olfactory receptors. It also mixes the food with salivary gland secretions, which initiates the process of starch digestion by salivary amylase, the process of lipid digestion by lingual lipase. Moreover, it lubricates and softens the bolus (ball) of food, making it easier to swallow. Majority of the substances dissolve in water – ‘tastants’ in food.
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