Alimentary Canal

The Alimentary Canal (pronounced: al-uh-men-tuh-ree kuh-nal) is a crucial part of the Digestive System in humans and many other animals.

Etymology

The term "Alimentary Canal" is derived from the Latin word "alimentum," which means "nourishment," and the English word "canal," which refers to a channel or tube.

Definition

The Alimentary Canal is a long, continuous tube that extends from the mouth to the Anus. It is responsible for the ingestion, digestion, absorption of nutrients, and expulsion of waste from the body. The Alimentary Canal includes several important organs, such as the Esophagus, Stomach, Small Intestine, and Large Intestine.

Function

The primary function of the Alimentary Canal is to break down food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and used by the body's cells. This process begins in the mouth, where food is mechanically broken down by chewing and chemically broken down by enzymes in saliva. The food then travels down the esophagus and into the stomach, where it is further broken down by stomach acid. From the stomach, the partially digested food moves into the small intestine, where most nutrient absorption occurs. Finally, the remaining undigested material passes into the large intestine, where water is absorbed, and the remaining waste is expelled from the body through the anus.

Related Terms

Digestion: The process by which food is broken down into absorbable units.
Peristalsis: The wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the Alimentary Canal.
Bolus: A small rounded mass of a substance, especially of chewed food at the moment of swallowing.
Chyme: The pulpy acidic fluid that passes from the stomach to the small intestine, consisting of gastric juices and partly digested food.