Which is the longest part of the digestive tract?

Options

A. Esophagus
B. Stomach
C. Small intestine
D. Large intestine

Answer

To determine which part of the digestive tract is the longest, let's analyze the options provided:

1. **Esophagus**: The esophagus is a tube-like structure that connects the throat (pharynx) to the stomach. Its average length is about 10 inches (approximately 25 cm). This is relatively short compared to other parts of the digestive tract.

2. **Stomach**: The stomach is a J-shaped organ that plays a role in the digestion and storage of food. Its average length is about 12 inches (approximately 30 cm), which is longer than the esophagus but still not the longest part of the digestive tract.

3. **Small Intestine**: The small intestine is responsible for digestion and absorption of nutrients. It is significantly longer than both the esophagus and the stomach, measuring about 22 feet (approximately 6.7 meters). This makes it the longest part of the digestive tract.

4. **Large Intestine**: The large intestine helps in the absorption of water and the formation of feces. Its length is about 15 feet (approximately 4.5 meters). While it is longer than the esophagus and stomach, it is still shorter than the small intestine.

Based on this analysis, the longest part of the digestive tract is the **small intestine**, which measures approximately 22 feet in length.

**Final Answer**: The longest part of the digestive tract is the **small intestine**.