Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What digestive process mainly happens in the stomach?

1. Ingestion

2. Absorption

3. Mechanical digestion

4. Biochemical digestion

The correct answer is: Mechanical digestion

The digestive process that primarily occurs in the stomach is mechanical digestion. In the stomach, food is mixed with gastric juices and thoroughly churned to break it down into smaller particles. This churning action is facilitated by the muscular contractions of the stomach walls, which play a critical role in the mechanical aspect of digestion. While biochemical digestion does occur in the stomach through the action of enzymes and acids that begin the breakdown of food components, the key processes associated specifically with the stomach are mechanical in nature. Other stages of digestion, including ingestion and absorption, are characterized by different functions; ingestion refers to the intake of food, and absorption generally occurs in the intestines where nutrients are taken up into the bloodstream. Thus, the emphasis on mechanical digestion accurately captures the predominant activity of the stomach in the digestive process.