Both chemical and mechanical digestion start in the mouth and continue in the stomach.

A. Esophageal glands secrete mucus to lubricate the esophagus, but they do not cause acid reflux.

B. Pharyngeal constrictors are muscles that help in the swallowing process, not in preventing acid reflux.

C. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a ring of muscle that controls the passage of food from the esophagus to the stomach. If the LES is weakened or relaxes inappropriately, stomach acid can flow back into the esophagus, causing acid reflux or "heartburn."

D. The upper esophageal sphincter controls the passage of food from the pharynx into the esophagus, but it is not involved in preventing acid reflux.

A. The bicarbonate, phosphate, and protein: The major chemical buffer systems in the body are the bicarbonate buffer system, the phosphate buffer system, and the protein buffer system. These buffers help maintain pH balance in the blood and other fluids.

B. The urinary and digestive: The urinary and digestive systems are involved in excretion and digestion, not buffering.

C. The bicarbonate, nucleic acids, and protein: Nucleic acids are not major buffering systems in the body; the bicarbonate, phosphate, and protein systems are the primary ones.

D. The urinary and respiratory systems play roles in regulating acid-base balance through excretion and gas exchange but are not chemical buffer systems themselves.