HUMAN NUTRITION

Detailed explanation-1: -The term bolus applies to this mixture of food and solutions until they are passed into the stomach. Once the bolus reaches the stomach, mixes with gastric juices, and becomes reduced in size, the food mass becomes known as chyme .

Detailed explanation-2: -Once the food bolus reaches the pharynx, swallowing starts, and relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter ensues to allow passage of the food bolus into the esophagus. The bolus then travels down the esophageal body aided by peristaltic contractions of the esophageal muscles.

Detailed explanation-3: -The esophagus contracts as it moves food into the stomach. A “valve” called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is located just before the opening to the stomach. This valve opens to let food pass into the stomach from the esophagus and it prevents food from moving back up into the esophagus from the stomach.

Detailed explanation-4: -In digestion, a bolus (from Latin bolus, “ball") is a mass of food that (with animals that can chew) has been chewed at the point of swallowing. Under normal circumstances, the bolus then travels down the esophagus to the stomach for digestion.

Detailed explanation-5: -The epiglottis covers the trachea so the bolus (ball of chewed food) does not go down into the trachea or lungs, but rather into the esophagus. The tongue positions the bolus for swallowing and then peristalsis pushes the bolus down the esophagus into the stomach.