food enters body through mouth which leads to buccal cavity buccal cavity inside mouth and the beginning of the alimentary canal.

Adaptations of Mouth:

  • Teeth: break UP large pieces of food into smaller pieces. this increases the SA to V ratio of food to enzymes so that enzymes can act on food more efficiently.
  • salivary glands: secrete salivary amylase into mouth
  • Tongue: mixes food with saliva and pushes food to the back of the mouth to be swallowed. also rolls into balls.

Pharynx: part of alimentary canal that connects buccal cavity to esophagus and larynx(voice box) also leads to trachea.(windpipe)

Processes that take place in the mouth