What process involves the release of enzymes to digest nutrients externally before absorption?

The process that involves the release of enzymes to digest nutrients outside an organism before absorption is known as external digestion. This occurs when organisms secrete digestive enzymes into their environment to break down complex food substances into simpler molecules. Once these molecules are sufficiently broken down, the nutrients can then be absorbed through the organism's cell membranes or surfaces.

This method of digestion is common in many fungi and some types of bacteria, as well as certain animals, such as some carnivorous plants and scavengers. They rely on external digestion to access nutrients that would otherwise be inaccessible after they have been physically broken down into simpler forms.

In contrast, the other processes mentioned, such as internal digestion, involve the breakdown of food inside a digestive system rather than in the surrounding environment. Decomposition refers to the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, which may utilize external digestion but describes a broader ecological process rather than a specific digestive strategy. Intracellular digestion involves the uptake and digestion of food substances within cells, rather than through external release of enzymes. Thus, the focus on the external aspect of the digestive process clearly identifies external digestion as the correct answer.