52 



PHYSIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



the gastric juice and reduce it to the thin liquid, chyme, 

 which is the end of stomach digestion. Between the ad- 

 mission of food to the stomach and the appearance of 

 chyme in the intestine, several hours elapse. During 

 this time contraction waves, at intervals of about twenty 



SMALL 

 INTESTINE 



ANUS 

 Fig. 11. Diagram of the alimentary tube and its appendages. (After Testut.; 



seconds, press the liquefying food against the pyloric 

 valve, which does not yield until the food is in a liquid 

 form. It then opens and the liquid part escapes into the 



