What process refers to the breakdown of food into smaller pieces in the digestive system?

The process of breaking down food into smaller pieces is specifically known as mechanical digestion. This involves physical actions, such as chewing and the churning of food in the stomach, which prepares food for further breakdown by enzymes. Mechanical digestion plays a crucial role in increasing the surface area of food, making it easier for enzymes to act during the chemical digestion phase.

While digestion encompasses both mechanical and chemical processes that break down food, when focusing specifically on the physical breakdown aspect, it is more accurate to refer to mechanical digestion. Absorption refers to the process where nutrients from digested food pass into the bloodstream, and egestion is the elimination of undigested food from the body. Therefore, the chosen answer highlights the specific process involved in the physical breakdown of food in the digestive system.