Mechanical digestion, the process of breaking down large chunks of food into smaller pieces, is important because smaller pieces of food ________.
A) do not taste as good as larger pieces of food
B) have more surface area for chemical digestion than do larger pieces of food
C) are easier to excrete than are larger pieces of food
D) are more easily stored in the stomach than are larger pieces of food

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Smaller pieces of food have a larger surface area-to-volume ratio, which allows enzymes to more efficiently break down the food chemically. This increases the speed and efficiency of digestion, allowing the body to extract more nutrients from the food.

Mechanical Digestion, the Process of Breaking Down Large Chunks of Food