What process follows ingestion in the digestive system?

The process that follows ingestion in the digestive system is absorption. After food is ingested, it moves through the digestive tract where it is broken down into smaller, absorbable components through the processes of digestion. These components, such as sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids, are then absorbed primarily in the small intestine.

During absorption, nutrients pass through the intestinal walls and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, allowing the body to utilize them for energy, growth, and cellular repair. This step is crucial as it determines how effectively the body can extract and utilize the nutrients found in the food consumed.

Defecation and excretion refer to the elimination of waste from the body after the nutrients have been absorbed and are not the immediate processes that follow ingestion. Metabolism encompasses the biochemical changes that occur after absorption, where the body converts absorbed nutrients into energy or materials needed for various bodily functions. However, it is absorption that directly follows the ingestion phase in the digestive process.