food travel

Once food is chewed, voluntary muscles move it to the throat. In the pharynx (throat), automatic involuntary reflexes take over. The epiglottis closes over the larynx (voice box), which leads to the windpipe. A sphincter at the top of the esophagus relaxes, allowing the food to enter the digestive tract. Semi-digested food stays in the stomach 3-5 hours and it is slowly released to the rest of the digestive tract. Fifteen hours or more after the first bite, the final residue is passed along to the rectum/anus for expulsion.