Question

giraffes often eat leaves from thorny acacia trees. this giraffe is using its long, tough tongue to grab leaves while avoiding the thorns. the giraffe can use its tongue to pull the leaves into its mouth. what happens to leaves inside a giraffes mouth? select all that apply. the giraffe uses its teeth to crush the leaves into small pieces. the giraffes saliva begins to digest the leaves. the leaves enter the giraffes blood.

Explanation:

• Teeth crushing leaves: Giraffes, like many herbivores, use their teeth (premolars and molars) to mechanically break down plant material (leaves) into smaller pieces. This is part of the initial stage of digestion in the mouth.
• Saliva digestion: Saliva contains enzymes (such as amylase in some animals, though the specific enzymes in giraffe saliva relevant to leaf digestion - like those that might start breaking down plant cell - wall components or starches in leaves) that begin the chemical digestion process.
• Leaves entering blood: Digestion is a multi - stage process. In the mouth, the leaves are just starting to be processed. The leaves need to go through the digestive tract (stomach, intestines etc.) where nutrients are absorbed into the blood. Absorption into the blood does not occur in the mouth.

Answer:

The giraffe uses its teeth to crush the leaves into small pieces. The giraffe's saliva begins to digest the leaves.