Question

Namita's mother does not allow her to lie on the abdomen immediately after having food. What could most likely be the reason for this?

• A. In stomach, food gets processed into a thick liquid called chyme.
• B. Peristaltic movement gets affected throughout the digestive tract especially small intestine where digestion and absorption chiefly occurs, hence food does not properly mix with enzymes and stays undigested.
• C. The small intestine, on compression, releases intestinal juices which restrict the action of digestive enzymes in the small intestine.
• D. The peristaltic movement gets affected throughout the digestive tract especially large intestine where poor motility may result in greater absorption of water and thereby may cause diarrhoea.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Peristaltic movement gets affected throughout the digestive tract especially small intestine where digestion and absorption chiefly occurs, hence food does not properly mix with enzymes and stays undigested.

In the digestive tract, smooth muscle tissue contracts and relax in sequence to produce a peristaltic wave, which propels food along the tract. The relaxation of circular smooth muscles, then their contraction, prevents the backward movement of food and longitudinal contraction to push it forward. This movement can be hampered in lying down on stomach due to external compression of the abdomen. It can lead to indigestion. Thus, the correct answer is option B.