Which moves the food from the esophagus to the stomach

The alimentary canal is a single continuous tube that includes the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. After food is chewed, made into a bolus, and swallowed, the action of the epiglottis routes the bolus into the esophagus. From there, peristaltic waves propel ingested foodstuffs through the alimentary canal.

1. The Epiglottis Directs Swallowed Foodstuffs Down the Esophagus

The respiratory and digestive systems share structures in the back of the oral cavity that connect with both the trachea (of the respiratory system) and the esophagus (of the digestive system). What prevents swallowed food from “going down the wrong pipe”? With each swallow a structure called the epiglottis closes over respiratory structures. The swallowed bolus stays on course and is directed toward the esophagus. One peristaltic wave can be enough to move a bolus down the esophagus and into the stomach.

2. Peristalsis Is the Contraction of Muscle Tissue That Helps Move and Break Down Foodstuffs

The walls of the alimentary canal include layers of smooth muscle controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Alternating contraction and relaxation of these muscles is called peristalsis. Peristaltic waves push the swallowed bolus down the esophagus. In the stomach, peristalsis churns swallowed food, mixing it with gastric juices. These mechanical and chemical actions further break down food into a substance called chyme. It takes about a minute to chew a piece of food into a bolus and a few seconds to swallow it. Once in the stomach foodstuffs take a few hours to become chyme.

3. Peristaltic Waves Move Nutrients and Waste Through the Intestines

Most nutrient absorption from the foods we eat occurs in the small intestine. When chyme passes from the stomach into the small intestine, peristaltic waves shift it back and forth and mix it with digestive enzymes and fluids. Nutrients from the chyme are absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal walls Peristaltic waves in the small intestine are smaller and more regular, pushing the chyme for 3 to 6 hours before passing it to the large intestine where any final absorption takes place. Peristaltic waves help compact and move waste and indigestible foodstuffs through the large intestine for elimination.

Download Digestion in a Bag Lab Activity

Answer

Verified

Hint: From the mouth digestion begins. The food is firstly chewed by the teeth and gets mixed with the saliva which is secreted from the salivary gland. Digestion of starch and fats takes place by the enzymes in the saliva and the resulting bolus move into the esophagus by swallowing

Complete answer:
-The oesophagus is a tubular-shaped organ that joins the mouth to the stomach. The chewed and broken food once swallowed passes through the esophagus. Peristalsis movement occurs in the smooth muscles of the oesophagus that helps is pushing the food toward the stomach. The motions of the peristaltic wave are unidirectional, that is; it will move the food in only one direction - from mouth to stomach, and not a reverse movement, either that in the case of the vomit reflex.
-There is a formation of ring-like muscles known as sphincters in the human digestive system. The gastro-oesophageal sphincter (or cardiac sphincter) is situated at the stomach corner end of the esophagus. The pressure is exerted by the bolus of food and the act of swallowing. In response to this, the sphincter opens and the bolus goes into the stomach. In cases of no swallowing action, this sphincter is closed and prevents the contents of the stomach from moving up the oesophagus. In some cases, the acidic digestive juices escape into the esophagus which causes Acid reflux or “heartburn”.

So, the correct answer is,”Cardiac sphincter”.

Additional answer:
Stomach - The digestion of a larger portion of proteins occurs in the stomach. It is a saclike organ that releases gastric digestive juices aiding the digestion process. In the stomach chamber, pepsin is the enzyme that carries out the protein digestion.
-The highly acidic environment combined with the action of the enzyme pepsin kills so many microorganisms in the food resulting in the catabolism of protein in the food.
Large intestine-The reabsorption of the water from indigestible food material and the processing of the waste material is carried out in the large intestine. The length of the large intestine is much smaller related to the small intestine. Apparently, the diameter is larger for the large intestine and has three main parts: the cecum, the colon, and the rectum.

Note:
-The passage of the liquids and solids are controlled by the Sphincters.
-In the process of digestion, many sphincters are used every day like the lower esophageal sphincter, which is located at the top of the stomach that blocks stomach acids and other stomach contents from going up and into the oesophagus.