Question

What is the slurry mass of food that forms in the mouth due to chewing called?

• A. Chyme
• B. Chyle
• C. Bolus
• D. Pellets

Hint:

Digestive Terminology.

• Bolus: Chewed food mixed with saliva in the mouth.
• Chyme: Partially digested food in the stomach/small intestine.
• Chyle: Lymphatic fluid with absorbed fats in small intestine.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

When food is taken into the mouth, it is mechanically broken down by chewing (mastication) and mixed with saliva. Saliva contains enzymes like amylase (for carbohydrate digestion) and mucus (for lubrication). The chewed, moistened, and partially digested mass of food that is ready to be swallowed is called a bolus.
- Chyme: Semi-fluid mass passed from the stomach into the small intestine.
- Chyle: Milky lymphatic fluid with emulsified fats from the small intestine.
- Pellets: Undigested food remains, often regurgitated by birds. Hence, the correct term is bolus.

Answer 2

The slurry mass of food that forms in the mouth due to chewing is called the Bolus.
When we chew food, the teeth break it down into smaller pieces, and the saliva mixes with these pieces to soften and lubricate the food.
Saliva contains enzymes like amylase which begin the digestion of carbohydrates right in the mouth.
The combined action of chewing and saliva turns the food into a soft, moist, and easy-to-swallow mass known as the bolus.
This bolus is then pushed to the back of the mouth by the tongue to initiate swallowing.
The formation of bolus is essential for safe and efficient swallowing, ensuring food moves smoothly down the esophagus.
Without this process, swallowing solid food would be difficult and could cause choking.
In summary, the bolus is the chewed and saliva-moistened mass that prepares food for its journey through the digestive tract.
It plays a critical role in the initial stages of digestion and safe ingestion.
Understanding the bolus helps explain how the mouth contributes to the digestion process beyond just breaking food into pieces.