The alimentary canal is a long, muscular tube that runs through your body, starting at the mouth and ending at the anus.

The Mouth and Esophagus

Digestion begins in the mouth. Teeth break food into smaller pieces, and saliva softens it. After swallowing, the food passes into the esophagus, a long muscular pipe. This pipe uses rhythmic muscle contractions, called peristalsis, to push food down into your stomach like squeezing a tube of toothpaste.

The Stomach and Small Intestine

The stomach is a bag-like organ that churns food with strong acids to turn it into a thick liquid. From there, food moves to the small intestine. This is a very long, coiled tube where almost all nutrient absorption happens. The walls of the small intestine have tiny finger-like projections called villi that soak up vitamins and minerals into your bloodstream.

The Large Intestine and Rectum

The large intestine is wider but shorter than the small intestine. Its primary job is to absorb water from the leftover material that your body could not digest. Once the water is removed, the remaining solid waste moves into the rectum. The rectum stores this waste until it is ready to leave the body through the anus.

Summary of the Pathway

• Mouth: Ingestion and mechanical breakdown.
• Esophagus: Transporting food to the stomach.
• Stomach: Chemical mixing and protein breakdown.
• Small Intestine: Nutrient absorption into the blood.
• Large Intestine: Water absorption and waste formation.
• Rectum/Anus: Removal of solid waste.