by little to the small intestine through, the
duodenum. The passage of food from the stomach
to the duodenum is controlled by a sphincter at the
pyloric end.
The duodenum is about 10 inches m length and
is of particular importance because it is into this
part that the juices from the pancreas and the liver
enter- The pancreas which is about 6 inches long
and H- inch wide, lies just behind the lower edge
of the stomach. The liver which is the largest
glandular organ in the body, lies on the right side
of the abdomen. Attached to the under surface of
the liver is a small storage place for bile, the gall
bladder. The bile contains a substance named
cholesterol, which may sometimes be thrown out of
solution and lead to formation of whcil are called
Gallstones. When thesp stones obslruct the passage
of bile from gall bladder, there will be intense bilial
colic and jaundice may develop.
Then we come to the small intestine which is
about 22 feet long. The portion of the large intestine
where it is joined by the small intestine is called the
caecum. There is a small tail-like appendage to
the caecum, called the appendix, which, in the
opinion of medical men, exists only to provide a
means of income to the enterprising surgeon.
THE PROCESS OF DIGESTION
Digestion starts in the mouth where the food is
subjected to the chemical action of saliva and the
physical action of mastication. Through thorough
.chewing the food gets divided up into finer particles
facilitating the process of digestion.. When saliva
gets intimately rnix^d with the food, the starch in