What process involves enzymes breaking down food particles for nutrient absorption?

The process in which enzymes break down food particles for nutrient absorption is known as digestion. During digestion, various enzymes produced in the digestive system facilitate the breakdown of complex food molecules into simpler forms that can be easily absorbed by the body. This process is essential for converting the nutrients present in food into forms that the body can utilize for energy, growth, and repair.

Digestion occurs primarily in the gastrointestinal tract, where mechanical and chemical processes work together to ensure that nutrients are effectively extracted from food. This includes the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into smaller molecules such as sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids. Once these nutrients are broken down, they can be absorbed through the walls of the intestines into the bloodstream and transported to various cells and tissues in the body.

Other processes mentioned, such as respiration, metabolism, and circulation, play important roles in the body's overall function, but they do not specifically involve the breakdown of food for nutrient absorption like digestion does. Respiration relates to the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) in the body, metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions that occur within cells (including digestion but also involving other processes), and circulation refers to the movement of blood throughout the body.