Questions: Which of the following is an agent of mechanical digestion in the mouth?
a.) Saliva
b.) Peristalsis
c.) Teeth
d.) Salivary amylase
Transcript text: Which of the following is an agent of mechanical digestion in the mouth?
a.) Saliva
b.) Peristalsis
c.) Teeth
d.) Salivary amylase
Solution
The answer is the third one (c): Teeth.
Explanation for each option:
a.) Saliva - Incorrect. Saliva is a fluid produced by the salivary glands that helps moisten food and contains enzymes, but it does not mechanically break down food.
b.) Peristalsis - Incorrect. Peristalsis refers to the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract, primarily occurring in the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, not in the mouth.
c.) Teeth - Correct. Teeth are responsible for the mechanical digestion in the mouth by physically breaking down food into smaller pieces through chewing.
d.) Salivary amylase - Incorrect. Salivary amylase is an enzyme found in saliva that begins the chemical digestion of carbohydrates, not mechanical digestion.
Summary:
Teeth are the agents of mechanical digestion in the mouth, as they physically break down food into smaller pieces through the process of chewing.