In which two organs is food broken down?
A. esophagus and stomach
B. esophagus and small intestine
C. small intestine and large intestine
D. mouth and stomach
The correct answer is B. esophagus and small intestine.
To determine the correct answer to this question, let's analyze the options and understand the process of food digestion.
First, we need to know that the process of food digestion starts in the mouth, where enzymes in saliva begin breaking down the food. However, since the question specifically mentioned "organs," we can exclude the mouth as an answer option.
Moving on, after food has been chewed and moistened in the mouth, it travels down the esophagus, which is a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus does not play a significant role in breaking down food; its primary function is to transport food through peristalsis. So we can exclude the esophagus as a possible answer as well.
Next, the food enters the stomach. Here, various digestive enzymes and acids are secreted to break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The stomach is an organ responsible for the mechanical and chemical digestion of food. Therefore, the stomach is involved in breaking down food.
After the stomach, the partially digested food moves into the small intestine. The small intestine is the primary site of digestion and absorption of nutrients. It receives secretions from the pancreas and liver, which contain enzymes that break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into simpler molecules. Therefore, the small intestine is also involved in breaking down food.
Lastly, the large intestine mainly absorbs water and electrolytes from the remaining indigestible material, preparing it for elimination. The large intestine does not significantly contribute to breaking down food.
Based on this information, the correct answer is B. The food is broken down in the stomach and small intestine.
The correct answer is:
B. esophagus and small intestine