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Multiple Choice

What are the three phases of digestion?

Digestion progresses through three phases that coordinate neural and hormonal signals as food moves from mouth to small intestine. The cephalic phase is triggered by senses and thoughts of food, prompting saliva production and early gastric secretions via neural pathways in anticipation of digestion. The gastric phase begins when food reaches the stomach, activating gastrin release and stimulating acid and enzyme secretion plus mixing to form chyme. The intestinal phase starts as chyme enters the small intestine, where hormones like secretin and cholecystokinin slow stomach activity and promote pancreatic and biliary secretions to continue digestion and absorption. The other options describe either parts of the digestive tract or different types of digestion, not the regulatory phases themselves.

Digestion progresses through three phases that coordinate neural and hormonal signals as food moves from mouth to small intestine. The cephalic phase is triggered by senses and thoughts of food, prompting saliva production and early gastric secretions via neural pathways in anticipation of digestion. The gastric phase begins when food reaches the stomach, activating gastrin release and stimulating acid and enzyme secretion plus mixing to form chyme. The intestinal phase starts as chyme enters the small intestine, where hormones like secretin and cholecystokinin slow stomach activity and promote pancreatic and biliary secretions to continue digestion and absorption. The other options describe either parts of the digestive tract or different types of digestion, not the regulatory phases themselves.