1. Ingestion: The wolf ingests the rabbit by biting and chewing, breaking down the tissues into smaller pieces.
2. Digestion: Once in the wolf's digestive system, the rabbit's meat undergoes both mechanical and chemical digestion. The mechanical digestion occurs in the stomach, where strong stomach muscles churn the food and mix it with digestive juices. The chemical digestion begins in the stomach with the secretion of gastric enzymes that break down proteins, and continues in the small intestine with the release of enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver. These enzymes further break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into simpler molecules, such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids.
3. Absorption: The digested nutrients are absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. The glucose from carbohydrates provides quick energy, while fatty acids from fats provide a more long-lasting energy source. The amino acids from proteins are used for various metabolic processes, including building and repairing tissues.
4. Cellular respiration: The absorbed nutrients are transported throughout the wolf's body to the cells. Inside the cells, the glucose undergoes cellular respiration, a series of enzymatic reactions that break down glucose and produce energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The ATP molecules serve as the immediate source of energy for cellular processes.
5. Waste elimination: The undigested materials and waste products from the digestive process, such as fiber and indigestible plant matter, are eventually eliminated from the body as feces.
Through the process of digestion and absorption, the wolf extracts the chemical energy stored in the rabbit's tissues and converts it into a usable form that powers its body's activities, allowing the wolf to grow, maintain its body temperature, hunt for prey, and engage in other essential behaviors.