What is the Difference Between Digestion in Stomach and Digestion in Intestine?

Digestion in the stomach and intestine differ in several aspects, including the type of digestion, the organs involved, and the enzymes and juices responsible for breaking down food. Here are the main differences:

• Type of digestion: In the stomach, digestion is primarily mechanical and chemical. The stomach contracts and produces acids and enzymes that break down food into smaller particles. In the small intestine, digestion involves the mixing of food with digestive juices from the pancreas, liver, and intestine, while the walls of the small intestine absorb water and digested nutrients into the bloodstream.
• Organs involved: The stomach is a muscular organ that digests food and is part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The small intestine, on the other hand, is a part of the GI tract that mixes food with digestive juices from the pancreas, liver, and intestine, and pushes the mixture forward for further digestion.
• Enzymes and juices: In the stomach, the enzyme pepsin is responsible for digesting proteins into polypeptides and oligopeptides. In the small intestine, the pancreas, liver, and intestine secrete digestive juices and enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into absorbable units.
• Further digestion: The stomach's primary role is to digest food and send it to the small intestine, while the small intestine's role is to mix food with digestive juices and absorb water and digested nutrients into the bloodstream.

In summary, digestion in the stomach primarily involves mechanical and chemical processes, using enzymes like pepsin to break down food. In contrast, digestion in the intestine involves the mixing of food with digestive juices from the pancreas, liver, and intestine, and the absorption of water and digested nutrients into the bloodstream.

Comparative Table: Digestion in Stomach vs Digestion in Intestine

Here is a table comparing the differences between digestion in the stomach and digestion in the intestine:

Digestion in the stomach mainly involves mechanical and chemical processes, such as mixing and churning of food, along with the release of hydrochloric acid and enzymes like pepsin. In contrast, digestion in the intestine focuses on enzymatic and absorptive processes, with the help of enzymes from the pancreas, liver, and small intestine itself. The stomach has an acidic environment (1.5-3.5 pH), while the intestine has an alkaline environment (7.5-8.5 pH). The small intestine is approximately 22 feet long and is the primary site for nutrient absorption.