Trávením

Trávením, often referred to as digestion in English, is the process by which food is broken down into smaller molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. This complex physiological function is essential for life, providing the body with the nutrients it needs for energy, growth, and repair. The digestive system is a series of organs working together to achieve this breakdown and absorption.

The process begins in the mouth where food is mechanically broken down by chewing and mixed with saliva. Saliva contains enzymes like amylase, which starts the chemical breakdown of carbohydrates. Once swallowed, food travels down the esophagus to the stomach. In the stomach, strong muscular contractions further mix the food with gastric juices, which include acid and enzymes like pepsin that break down proteins.

From the stomach, the partially digested food, now called chyme, moves into the small intestine. This is where the majority of nutrient absorption occurs. Here, enzymes from the pancreas and liver (bile) continue the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The walls of the small intestine are lined with villi, tiny finger-like projections that increase the surface area for efficient absorption of digested nutrients into the bloodstream.

Undigested material then moves into the large intestine, where water is absorbed and waste products are formed into feces. Finally, feces are eliminated from the body through the rectum and anus. This entire process, from ingestion to elimination, is trávením.