Process of Digestion Summary Sheet Digestion prepares food for absorption. Absorption is the passage of digested nutrients through the gut wall. Digestive processes include mechanical, chemical and enzymatic mechanisms. Digestive strategies include carnivory, omnivory and herbivory. Herbivores include pre and post-gastric fermenters.
Digestion starts in the mouth where chewing and saliva secretion occur.
Functions of saliva include lubrication, buffering, amylase, lipase and urea. Digestive secretion of the stomach include HCL, pepsinogen, mucus and renin. Most extensive digestion and absorption in the non-ruminant occurs in the small intestine. This is divided into the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Pancreatic secretions occur in the duodenum.