Alimentary Canal

Table of Contents

• Alimentary Canal
• Parts of Alimentary Canal
  • Mouth
  • Oesophagus
  • Stomach
  • Small Intestine
  • Large Intestine
  • Rectum
  • Anus
• Summary
• Did You Know?
• What’s Next?

In the previous segment, we learnt about Heterotrophic nutrition and its types. In this segment, we will study the Alimentary canal.

What is the Alimentary canal?

The long passage that starts from the Mouth and ends at Anus is known as the alimentary canal or Gastrointestinal Tract. This long pipe has modified structures depending upon the needs of the body.

What are Different parts of the alimentary canal?

Different parts of the alimentary canal are the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus.

Mouth

• • It is the part where the digestion starts.
  • The chewing of the food by teeth breaks the food down into tiny pieces.
  • Saliva produced by Salivary Glands helps in the breakdown of Starch.
  • It also makes the food easier to swallow by forming a Bolus. A bolus is a ball-like structure made up of food and saliva.

Oesophagus

• • It connects the mouth to the stomach.
  • No digestion takes place in this part.
  • The Bolus is propelled down by the movements in the oesophagus.

Stomach

• • The breakdown of protein takes place in the stomach with the help of digestive juices.
  • It stores food for hours.
  • The bolus is converted to Chyme in the stomach.

Small Intestine

• • The breakdown of fats, proteins, and starch takes place in the small intestine with the help of digestive juices.
  • Absorption of the nutrients takes place in the small intestine.

Large intestine

• • Absorption of water takes place in the large intestine also known as Colon.

Rectum

• • The rectum holds on to the undigested food.

Anus

• • The undigested food is expelled or excreted from the anus. This process is called

Excretion.