Digestion takes place in a long tube-like canal called the alimentary canal or the digestive tract. Choose the correct order in which food travels through these organs.

Options

A. mouth `to` gullet `to` stomach `to` small intestine `to` large intestine
B. mouth `to` oesophagus `to` stomach `to` large intestine `to` small intestine
C. mouth `to` stomach `to` oesophagus `to` small intestine `to` large intestine
D. mouth `to` stomach `to` gullet `to` small intestine `to` large intestine

Answer

To determine the correct order in which food travels through the alimentary canal, we can break down the process step by step:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Mouth**: The process of digestion begins in the mouth, where food is mechanically broken down by chewing and mixed with saliva, which contains enzymes that begin the digestion of carbohydrates.

2. **Esophagus**: After the mouth, the food travels down the esophagus, which is a muscular tube that connects the throat (pharynx) with the stomach. The food is pushed down through a series of muscular contractions known as peristalsis.

3. **Stomach**: Once the food reaches the stomach, it is mixed with gastric juices, which contain acids and enzymes that further break down the food into a semi-liquid form called chyme.

4. **Small Intestine**: The chyme then moves into the small intestine, where most of the digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs. The small intestine is divided into three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

5. **Large Intestine**: After the small intestine, the remaining undigested food passes into the large intestine (or colon), where water and salts are absorbed, and the waste material begins to form.

6. **Rectum**: The waste then moves into the rectum, which is the final section of the large intestine, where it is stored until it is ready to be expelled.

7. **Anus**: Finally, the waste is expelled from the body through the anus, which is the opening at the end of the digestive tract.

### Correct Order of Food Travel:
Mouth → Esophagus → Stomach → Small Intestine → Large Intestine → Rectum → Anus