Final answer:
C) Ingestion and initial digestion of food. The function of the mouth is ingestion and initial digestion of food through mechanical and chemical processes. In the mouth, food is broken down mechanically through chewing and mixed with saliva, which contains enzymes like amylase that begin the process of chemical digestion of carbohydrates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of the mouth (oral cavity) is ingestion and initial digestion of food. Ingestion is the process of taking in food through the mouth, and it is in the mouth where mechanical and chemical digestion begins. Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of food through chewing, while chemical digestion is the process of breaking down food using enzymes. The mouth plays a crucial role in preparing food into smaller particles that can be absorbed and used by the body.
The primary function of the mouth, or oral cavity, is the ingestion and initial digestion of food. In the mouth, food is broken down mechanically through chewing and mixed with saliva, which contains enzymes like amylase that begin the process of chemical digestion of carbohydrates. The tongue helps in manipulating food for chewing and swallowing, and the teeth play a crucial role in the mechanical breakdown of food into smaller particles, facilitating further digestion. While the mouth is involved in the initial stages of digestion, the digestion of fats and proteins primarily occurs in later parts of the digestive system, such as the stomach and small intestine.