How does the GI system move food and drink through the body?
• The GI system starts at the mouth, which is connected to the stomach by a tube called the esophagus (e-SOF-ah-gus). The small intestine leaves the stomach and continues to the large intestine or colon. Together the large and small intestines are called the bowel. The last part of the bowel is the rectum that ends in the anus. The anus is kept closed by the anal sphincter (SFINGK-ter), which is a muscle band that works like a drawstring on a purse. • Food leaves the stomach and moves through the bowel with a wave-like movement called peristalsis (pare-i-STAL-sis). Fluid is taken out of the digested food while it is in the colon. The colon stores the remaining waste materials that are called bowel movements (BM), stool, or feces until it is time to have a BM. When the BM moves from the colon into the rectum, a reflex (automatic) action causes the anal sphincter to close. Normally, people can feel the BM in the rectum, and they can tighten their anal sphincter. This is a voluntary actio
