The stomach functions to Group of answer choices dehydrate materials prior to sending them to the next segment of the tract. store food material for later use, as fat. absorb most of the nutrients from foods. primarily break down foods by mechanical means. do all of the above.

The main function of stomach is to serve as a temporary storage chamber and primarily breaks down food by mechanical means.

Explanation:

The stomach is a muscular organ located on the left side of the upper abdomen. It secretes acid and enzymes that digest food. The stomach muscles contract periodically, churning food to enhance digestion (breaking down of food by mechanical means). The stomach is made up of several layers of tissues

The mucosa (mucous membrane) is the inner lining of the stomach.

Next is the sub mucosa.

The muscularis propria (or muscularis externa) is the next layer that covers the submucosa. It is the main muscle of the stomach and is made up of 3 layers of muscle.

The serosa is the fibrous membrane that covers the outside of the stomach.

The stomach has 3 main functions:

1. temporary storage for food, which passes from the esophagus to the stomach where it is held for 2 hours or longer

2. mixing and breakdown of food by contraction and relaxation of the muscle layers in the stomach

3. digestion of food

The stomach secretes various secretions containing enzymes which breaks down food chemically and the muscles mechanically break down the food. Food is broken down into a thick, acidic, soupy mixture called chyme, which enters the intestine.

primarily break down foods by mechanical means

Explanation:

The stomach carries out both mechanical and chemical digestion of food substances.

it walls are made up of three layers of muscles fibres; the inner oblique, the middle circular and the outermost longitudinal. which collectively are known as the muscularis externa, and the muscularis mucosa where mucous is secreted, and glands for enzymes. it is guided by two sphincters which prevent food regurgitation into the oesophagus (oesophageal sphincter), and outlets into the duodenum (pyloric sphincter).

Basically the inner oblique layer is the actual muscle that conduct mechanical breakdown of food, by churning (stir, shake) the partially breakdown food substances arriving from the mouth. The mucous softening the foods substance, chemical breakdown by enzymatic process in the stomach further breakdown the food materials.

Thus when the digesting food leaves the stomach, it has become partially digested, and it is called Chyme. It passes through the pyloric sphincter to reach the duodenum.