Question 74
Describe the alimentary canal of man.
Question 74
Describe the alimentary canal of man.
The human alimentary canal is also called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Structures of the alimentary canal include the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, intestines and anus. The alimentary canal can be divided into the upper GI tract and the lower GI tract. The upper GI tract is composed of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, and the duodenum, the uppermost part of the small intestine. The mouth also called the buccal cavity or oral cavity contains a number of structures that help in the initial digestion of food, namely, the salivary glands, tongue, and teeth. The pharynx, the portion of the throat directly behind the mouth, serves to direct food into the oesophagus and prevent it from entering the trachea, or windpipe. The oesophagus helps to move the ingested food towards the stomach through peristalsis, a type of wave-like muscular contraction. The second stage of digestion takes place in the stomach. The lower GI tract consists of most of the intestines and the anus. The intestines are divided into the small and large intestine, both of which have three subparts. Two of the sections of the small intestine are included in the lower GI tract, the jejunum and the ilium.
The human alimentary canal is also called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Structures of the alimentary canal include the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, intestines and anus. The alimentary canal can be divided into the upper GI tract and the lower GI tract. The upper GI tract is composed of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, and the duodenum, the uppermost part of the small intestine. The mouth also called the buccal cavity or oral cavity contains a number of structures that help in the initial digestion of food, namely, the salivary glands, tongue, and teeth. The pharynx, the portion of the throat directly behind the mouth, serves to direct food into the oesophagus and prevent it from entering the trachea, or windpipe. The oesophagus helps to move the ingested food towards the stomach through peristalsis, a type of wave-like muscular contraction. The second stage of digestion takes place in the stomach. The lower GI tract consists of most of the intestines and the anus. The intestines are divided into the small and large intestine, both of which have three subparts. Two of the sections of the small intestine are included in the lower GI tract, the jejunum and the ilium.
