What process begins in the mouth during digestion?

The process that begins in the mouth during digestion is enzymatic breakdown. When food enters the mouth, the saliva produced by the salivary glands contains important enzymes, such as amylase, which initiates the chemical breakdown of starches into simpler sugars. This enzymatic action is a crucial part of the digestive process, as it starts breaking down complex carbohydrates even before the food reaches the stomach.

Additionally, while the mouth is involved in other processes such as secretion (the release of saliva) and mechanical breakdown (the physical act of chewing), it is the enzymatic action of saliva that primarily marks the start of digestion at a chemical level. Therefore, while both mechanical breakdown and secretion are essential components of digestion, enzymatic breakdown specifically refers to the chemical changes that start in the mouth due to the action of enzymes on food.