Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

Where does digestion begin in the human body?

1. Stomach

2. Spleen

3. Intestines

4. Mouth

The correct answer is: Stomach

Digestion begins in the mouth, where mechanical and chemical processes start to break down food. The teeth chew the food, increasing its surface area, while saliva, produced by the salivary glands, contains enzymes like amylase that begin the breakdown of carbohydrates. This initial phase is critical as it prepares the food for further digestion in the stomach and intestines. While the stomach does play a significant role in digestion, particularly in the breakdown of proteins and the mixing of food with gastric juices, the very first step in the digestive process occurs in the mouth. The spleen's primary function relates to blood filtration and immune response, rather than digestion, and the intestines further process nutrients after they have been initially digested.