Bolus
A small soft ball of chewed food mixed with saliva that can be swallowed.
Hydrolysis
The enzymatic breakdown of food using water and enzymes; chemical digestion.
Peristalsis
Wave-like muscle contractions that push food along the digestive tract; begins in the esophagus.
Chyme
The semi-liquid acidic mixture that food becomes after 2-4 hours of churning and chemical breakdown in the stomach.
Esophagus
A muscular tube about 10 inches long that connects mouth to stomach; purely a transport structure using peristalsis.
Large Intestine (Colon)
A 5-foot-long tube where water is absorbed from remaining material transforming liquid into solid waste; houses the gut microbiome.
Rectum
The final 6-8 inches of the digestive tract; holds processed waste until expulsion.
Anus
The opening at the end of the digestive tract where expulsion happens; has internal (involuntary) and external (voluntary) sphincters.
Agni
In yogic philosophy the “digestive fire”; strong agni means efficient digestion
Small Intenstine
A 20-foot-long tube where most nutrient absorption occurs; has three sections: duodenum, jejunum, ileum; the first place nutrients are absorbed.
Villi
Millions of tiny finger-like projections covering the inner wall of the small intestine; create massive surface area (size of a tennis court) for nutrient absorption.
