150 



THE VITAL PROCESSES 



4. The hydrochloric acid acts on certain of the insoluble 

 mineral salts found in the foods and reduces them to a 

 soluble condition. 



5. It is also the opinion of certain physiologists that 

 cane sugar and maltose (double sugars) are converted by 

 the "hydrochloric . acid into dextrose and levulose (single 

 sugars). 



After a variable length of time, the contents of the 

 stomach is reduced to a rather uniform and pulpy mass 

 which is called chyme. Portions of this are now passed at 

 intervals into the small intestine. 



Muscular Action of the Stomach. The muscles in the 

 walls of the stomach have for one of their functions the 

 mixing of the food with the gastric juice. By alternately 

 contracting and relaxing, the different layers of muscle 

 keep* the form of the stomach changing- a result which 

 agitates and mixes its contents. This action varies in dif- 

 ferent parts of the organ, being slight or entirely absent 

 at the cardiac end, but quite marked at the pyloric end. 



Another purpose of the muscular coat is to empty the 

 stomach into the small intestine. During the greater part 

 of the digestive period the muscular band at the pyloric 

 orifice is contracted. At intervals, however, this band re- 

 laxes, permitting a part of the contents of the stomach to 

 be forced into the small intestine. After the discharge 

 the pyloric muscle again contracts, and so remains until 

 the time arrives for another discharge. 



In addition to emptying the st6mach into the small 

 intestine, these muscles also aid in emptying the organ 

 upward and through the esophagus and mouth, should 

 occasion require. Vomiting in case of poisoning, or if 

 the food for some reason fails to digest, is a necessary 

 though unpleasant operation. It is accomplished by the 



