Allied Healthcare EOPA Practice Exam

In the stomach, both mechanical and chemical digestion occur, which is why the correct answer encompasses both processes. Mechanical digestion refers to the physical breakdown of food, and in the stomach, this happens through the churning and mixing actions of the stomach muscles. These contractions help to further break apart food particles, mixing them with gastric juices.

Chemical digestion involves the breakdown of food into simpler molecules through the action of enzymes and acids. In the stomach, gastric acid (hydrochloric acid) and digestive enzymes, primarily pepsin, begin the process of digesting proteins into smaller peptides. This combination of mechanical and chemical processes is essential for effectively breaking down food so that nutrients can be absorbed in the intestines later.

Other options would focus solely on one aspect of digestion. Enzymatic digestion alone omits the pivotal role of physical breakdown, while mechanical digestion by itself does not account for the biochemical processes that contribute to nutrient breakdown. Therefore, recognizing that both processes occur simultaneously in the stomach gives a complete understanding of digestion at this stage.