Question

Movement of food through the alimentary canal is referred to as _____.

Absorption

Mastication

Ingestion

Propulsion.

Answer 1

1. Movement of food through the alimentary canal is known as______

The Answer is Propulsion. Please see the descriptions below to understand the answer.

A. Absorption

Absorption is the processes of transportation of digested end products or nutrients of food from the lumen of alimentary canal into the blood or lymph vessels located in the wall of alimentary canal. The major site of absorption is the small intestine. So the inner lining of small intestine is modified to increase surface area for more absorption. The cells lining the mucosa is having numerus finger like projections of plasma membrane known as micrivilli, which helps in absorption of nutrients.

B. Mastication

Mastication is the process of chewing(mechanical breakdown) the food, which breaks down the food materials & mixing it with saliva. Mastication helps in converting large chunks of food in to smaller pieces which facilitates digestion. Mastication helps to mix the food materials with saliva, which in turn contains various enzymes like salivary amylase. Saliva also lubricates the food.

C. Ingestion

Ingestion is the process of taking in of food in to mouth or oral cavity.

D. Propulsion

Propulsion is the movement of food through the alimentary canal or gastro intestinal tract. Propulsion consist of swallowing, which is a volantary process & peristalsis, which is a involuntray process. Rhythmic, wavelike contraction & relaxation of the muscular wall of alimentary canal known as peristalsis results in propulsion of food. Propulsion mpoves food from the mouth to the anus.