Path of Chyme
After hours of mechanical and chemical digestion, food has been reduced into chyme. As particles of food become small enough, they are passed at regular intervals into the small intestine, which stimulates the pancreas to release fluid containing a high concentration of bicarbonate. This fluid neutralizes the gastric juice, which can damage the lining of the intestine, resulting in duodenal ulcer. Other secretions from the pancreas, gallbladder, liver, and glands in the intestinal wall help in digestion. When food particles are sufficiently reduced in size and composition, they are absorbed by the intestinal wall and transported to the bloodstream. Some food material is passed from the small intestine to the large intestine. In the large intestine, bacteria break down proteins and starches in chyme that were not fully digested. When all of the nutrients have been absorbed from chyme, the remaining waste material changes into semi solids called feces, which then passes to the rectum, to be stored until it is ready to be expelled from the body.
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