Extra-oral digestion
- Pronunciation
- /eks-tra aw-ral dih-jes-tion/
- Category
- Digestion
- Singular
- Extra-oral digestion
- Plural
- Extra-oral digestions
Definition
The process of beginning to digest food outside of the mouth. This typically involves enzymes secreted by predators, such as spiders, that break down prey before it enters the digestive tract.
Etymology
From Latin 'extra', meaning 'outside' and 'oral', meaning 'of the mouth'.
Example
Many spiders employ extra-oral digestion, secreting digestive enzymes onto their prey before consuming it.