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The science of nutrition and healthy eating
The science of nutrition and healthy eating

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1 Holes, tubes and valves

The food tube running through the body (Figure 1) is extremely coiled. When opened out, it is about 7.5 to 8 metres long (the length varies with body size and nutritional status). It also has valves (muscular ones called sphincters) allowing the food to move one way only – under normal circumstances. Generally, these sphincters work automatically, although we have control over the one at the far end!

Described image
Figure _unit3.1.1 Figure 1 The main organs of the digestive system