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The coordinated movement of a food bolus from mouth to stomach, in three phases, that protects the airway on the way.
Three phases — mouth (voluntary), pharynx (reflex, airway shuts), oesophagus (peristalsis) — swallowing is airway protection with feeding attached.
Gastric Acid Secretion
Secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells, regulated in three phases.
Exocrine Pancreatic Secretion
Two secretions from one gland: a bicarbonate-rich fluid that neutralises stomach acid, and an enzyme-rich fluid that digests all three food groups.
Absorption in the Small Intestine
How the products of digestion are taken up across the lining of the small intestine into the blood and lymph, aided by a huge surface area.
Gastrointestinal Motility
The coordinated muscle movements of the gut that mix food with the digestive juices and push it along, from the stomach to the anus.
Bile: Formation and Function
The greenish fluid made by the liver that helps digest and absorb fats and gets rid of waste such as old pigment and cholesterol.
Gastrointestinal Hormones
The hormones released by the gut wall that coordinate digestion, switching the stomach, pancreas and gallbladder on and off at the right times.