The 6 steps in the digestive process

***Alimentary canal

AKA...GI tract= gastrointestinal tract

2. Peristalsis

Alternate waves of contractions and relaxation of muscles in the organ walls it squeezes food from one organ to the next some mixing occurs

6. Defecation

Eliminating indigestible substances from the body via the anus in form of stool/feces.

2. Propulsion

Moving of food through the alimentary canal including swallowing which is initiated voluntarily and peristalsis

3. Segmentation

Or rhythmic local constructions of the intestine it mixes food with digestive juices and increases the efficiency of absorption by repeatedly moving different parts of the food mass over the intestional wall

5. Absorption

Passage of digested end products vitamins,minerals,and water from lumen of GI tract into blood or lymph .Absorption to occur 1st substances must enter the muscular cells by active transport process small intestine is the major absorption site.

3. Mechanical digestion

Physically prepares food for chemical digestion by enzymes it includes of chewing mixing of food with saliva by the toungue churning food in the stomach and segmentation

4. Chemical digestion

Series of catobolic steps in complex food molecules are broken down to their chemical building blocks it accomplished by enzymes secreted by various glands into the lumen of the alimentary canal enzymatic breaking down of food stuff begins in the mouth and is completed in the small intestine

1. Ingestion

Taking in food usually via the mouth