Question

Which role does the mouth play in the digestive process?

A.
It absorbs and distributes the nutrients from the chewed food.

B.
It mixes the chewed food with air to form chime.

C.
It uses the tongue to push chewed food into the esophagus.

D.
It mixes the chewed food with saliva to soften it.

Answer 1

D. It mixes the chewed food with saliva to soften it — saliva moistens the food, begins chemical digestion (e.g., amylase) and helps form a bolus for swallowing.