How does the stomach digest food?

The stomach generally digests food by mixing and mechanical disruption, acid digestion, and transport.

1. Mixing and mechanical disruption

Gastric contractions and muscle movements mix food together and compress it into smaller particles, forming a mixture called the mouth.

2. Acid digestion The

stomach secretes substances such as acid, enzymes, etc. that work synergistically to break down food into smaller molecules. Acid is important for protein digestion and kills bacteria and other microorganisms from entering the digestive system.

3. Transport

Over time, the stomach releases most of the digested food from the bottom of the stomach into the duodenum. This process usually takes several hours.