Question

What role does the autonomic nervous system play in controlling the movement of food through the digestive tract? What other physical or physiological factors can impact the movement of food though the digestive tract?

Answer 1

The food we eat moves through the digestive tract with the help of parasympathetic nerves of autonomic nervous system. It increases blood pressure and as a result stimulates the activity of stomach. it stimulates salivary glands to release enough digestive enzymes. Parasympathetic nervous system controls peristalsis or gut motility, thus facilitates the movement of food through the tract. It controls the opening and closing of sphincters in digestive tract.

The physical factor that impacts the movement of food through the digestive tract is chewing. The physiological factors that impact movement are segmental contractions and peristaltic movement, which are involuntary actions controled by the parasympathetic nervous system.