To solve the problem, we need to identify the term used for the slurry mass of food that forms in the mouth due to chewing.
1. Understanding the Process:
When food is chewed in the mouth, it is mixed with saliva through the action of the teeth and tongue. This process breaks down the food into smaller pieces and mixes it with saliva, forming a soft, semi-liquid mass. This mass is essential for swallowing and further digestion.
2. Analyzing the Options:
(1) Chyme:
Chyme is the partially digested food that leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine. It is not formed in the mouth but rather in the stomach after mechanical and chemical digestion.
(2) Chyle:
Chyle is a milky fluid that contains emulsified fats and is formed in the small intestine during the digestion of lipids. It is not related to the process of chewing in the mouth.
(3) Bolus:
A bolus is the technical term for the soft, semi-liquid mass of food that forms in the mouth due to chewing and mixing with saliva. This is the correct term for the slurry mass described in the question.
(4) Pellets:
Pellets are compact, solid masses often associated with certain types of food or medication. They are not related to the slurry mass formed in the mouth during chewing.
3. Conclusion:
The slurry mass of food that forms in the mouth due to chewing is called a bolus.
Final Answer: $ {3} $