Pathway of Food through the Gastrointestinal Tract

Pathway of a Bolus of Food through the Gastrointestinal Tract

• The bolus of food enters the esophagus through the upper esophageal sphincter
• The bolus exits the esophagus through the lower esophageal sphincter and enters the stomach through the cardia

Stomach Region

• The bolus moves through the fundus of the stomach
• The bolus then moves through the pyloric antrum (wider end of the stomach)
• The bolus moves through the pyloric canal (thinner end of the stomach)
• The bolus exits the stomach through the pyloric sphincter/valve into the duodenum

Duodenum Region

• The partially digested food/liquids or chyme enters the superior segment of the duodenum (1st part)
• The duodenal bulb connects to the liver via the hepatoduodenal ligament
• Nutrients are transferred from the small intestine to the liver via the bile duct, hepatic artery, and portal vein
• The chyme moves down into the descending segment of the duodenum (2nd part)
• The pancreatic duct connects to the pancreas, allowing enzymes to help break down the chyme
• The common bile duct and pancreatic duct enter the descending segment through the major duodenal papilla
• The minor duodenal papilla allows for accessory pancreatic ducts to enter the descending segment

Later Regions of the Small Intestine

• The chyme moves into the transverse segment of the duodenum (3rd part), also known as the horizontal segment
• The chyme moves into the ascending segment of the duodenum
• The chyme moves through the duodenojejunal flexure into the jejunum
• The chyme moves from the jejunum into the ileum

Large Intestine Region

• The chyme moves from the ileum into the cecum through the ileocecal valve
• The chyme moves up the ascending colon, across the transverse colon, down the descending colon, around the S-shaped sigmoid colon, and into the rectum through muscle contractions

Anus Region

• The internal anal sphincter maintains continence
• The external anal sphincter muscle allows for the release of feces