Which of the following lists the four stages of food processing in order?

Options

A. Ingestion, digestion, absorption, elimination
B. Digestion, ingestion, absorption, elimination
C. Ingestion, absorption, elimination, digestion
D. Ingestion, digestion, elimination, absorption

Answer

To answer the question regarding the four stages of food processing in order, we can break it down into the following steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Ingestion**: This is the first stage where food is taken into the body. It involves the mechanical process of chewing (mastication) which breaks food into smaller pieces, forming a bolus. This bolus is then pushed down the esophagus to the stomach.

2. **Digestion**: The second stage is digestion, where the food is chemically broken down into simpler compounds. This occurs in the stomach and small intestine with the help of digestive enzymes and gastric juices. Complex food molecules are converted into simpler forms that can be absorbed.

3. **Absorption**: The third stage is absorption, which primarily takes place in the small intestine. Here, the digested nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. The nutrients are taken up from the liquid-like substance formed during digestion, allowing the body to utilize them.

4. **Elimination**: The final stage is elimination, which occurs in the large intestine. In this stage, water is reabsorbed, and the remaining undigested food is compacted into stool. The stool is then expelled from the body through the anus.

### Final Order:
The correct order of the four stages of food processing is:
1. Ingestion
2. Digestion
3. Absorption
4. Elimination