Fill in the gaps**

These organs combine to perform six tasks: ingestion, secretion, Fill in the blank 1 of 1 , digestion, absorption, and defecation

The Fill in the blank 1 of 1 system which can be up to 30 feet in length in adults

The mouth starts the process by ingesting and mechanically breaking down the Fill in the blank 1 of 1 we eat into a swallowable form, adding some early secretions to start the process of digestion

A ring-like muscle at the end of the Fill in the blank 1 of 1 controls the passage of food into the stomach

After traveling through the nearly 20 feet of small intestine, unabsorbed material moves into the Fill in the blank 1 of 1 (large bowel or large intestine)

A sack-like, muscular organ that is attached to the esophagus. When food enters the Fill in the blank 1 of 1 , it is churned in an acid bath

Myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus – between the longitudinal and Fill in the blank 1 of 1 layers in muscularis externa

The function of the digestive system truly begins within the brain. Whenever the body’s energy stores (i.e. blood glucose, protein, or fat stores) fall below a set point, the hunger centres of the Fill in the blank 1 of 1 are activated

Here the teeth are used to cut, tear, and grind chunks of food into smaller particles. This process of mastication involves the alternating action of the muscles of mastication (namely, the superficial and deep masseter, the Fill in the blank 1 of 1 and the temporalis muscles).

As the tongue rolls the chewed food into a bolus, the Fill in the blank 1 of 1 secrete saliva to moisten the bolus in order for it to pass smoothly to the stomach

The end result is that these nerves send motor signals to the tongue, which moves the bolus against the hard and soft palate, then into the Fill in the blank 1 of 1 (which is also under brainstem regulation).

The epiglottis closes off the Fill in the blank 1 of 1 to prevent food from entering the airway. The vocal cords are also adducted as an additional protective measure.

Once the Fill in the blank 1 of 1 enters the stomach, there is regulated release of a variety of enzymes that facilitate chemical digestion. Some of these enzymes also stimulate the accessory digestive organs to release their enzymes to aid in digestion.

The stomach can be functionally divided into proximal and distal motor pumps, which stores food content and pumps Fill in the blank 1 of 1 along the conduit, respectively. Portions of chyme are passed into the pylorus and into the small intestines.