Question

The swallowed food moves downwards in the alimentary canal because of ______.

Options

• force provided by the muscular tongue.

• the flow of water taken with the food.

• gravitational pull.

• the contraction of muscles in the wall of food pipe.

Answer 1

The swallowed food moves downwards in the alimentary canal because of the contraction of muscles in the wall of food pipe.

Explanation:

The muscles of oesophagus gently push the food down to the stomach in a wave-like action (contractions and relaxations) called peristalsis. Actually, this movement takes place throughout the alimentary canal to push the food forward.