digestion – the process of breaking down food into absorbable substances

(Pronounced die-jes-chn)

To remember the meaning of digestion, use the following mnemonic:

The diet eaten by the jester (digestion) had to be broken down in order to eat it. 

Digestion is the process by which the body breaks down large, complex food molecules into smaller, simpler molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and used by cells. It involves both mechanical digestion, such as chewing and churning in the stomach, and chemical digestion, where enzymes break down different food types. Digestion begins in the mouth and continues through the digestive system, including the stomach and small intestine, where most absorption occurs. The small, soluble molecules produced can then pass through the intestinal wall into the blood, which transports them to cells throughout the body where they're used for energy, growth, and repair.