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.
A phrase expressing the aims or nature of an enterprise, organization, or candidate; a motto. 2. A phrase used repeatedly, as in advertising or promotion: all the slogans and shibboleths coined out of the ideals of the peoples for the uses of imperialism (Margaret Sanger).