In certain organisms, these smaller substances are absorbed through the small intestine into the blood stream. Digestion is a form of catabolism that is often divided into two processes based on how food is broken down: mechanical and chemical digestion. The term mechanical digestion refers to the physical breakdown of large pieces of food into smaller pieces which can subsequently be accessed by digestive enzymes.
shibboleth (plural shibboleths) 1  A word, especially seen as a test, to distinguish someone as belonging to a particular nation, class, profession etc. 2  A common or longstanding belief, custom, or catchphrase associated with a particular group, especially one with little current meaning or truth. It's about time we abandoned the bourgeois shibboleth that earning money makes you a better person.
1a : a word or saying used by adherents of a party, sect, or belief and usually regarded by others as empty of real meaning the old shibboleths come rolling off their lips â Joseph Epsteinb : a widely held belief today this book publishing shibboleth is a myth â L. A. Woodc : truism, platitude some truth in the shibboleth that crime does not pay â ...