Protein digestion is the process by which the body breaks down proteins from food into smaller units called amino acids. This begins in the stomach, where the enzyme pepsin is activated by stomach acid to break down protein structures. The process continues in the small intestine, where enzymes from the pancreas, such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, further digest proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids. Once proteins are broken down into amino acids, they are absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. From there, these amino acids are transported to various cells in the body, where they are used to build new proteins necessary for growth, repair, and overall function.