Anatomy and Physiology

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alimentary canal

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Copyright

alimentary canal (digestive tract; gut) A tubular organ in animals that is divided into a series of zones specialized for the ingestion, digestion, and absorption of food and for the elimination of indigestible material (see illustration). In most animals the canal has two openings, the mouth (for the intake of food) and the anus (for the elimination of waste). Simple animals, such as cnidarians (e.g. Hydra and jellyfish) and flatworms, have only one opening to their alimentary canal, which must serve both functions.

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alimentary canal

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

alimentary canal In animals, a tube along which food passes and through parts of whose walls nutrients are absorbed into the body. In some animals (e.g. coelenterates) the canal has a single opening. In most animals it has two: a mouth through which food enters; and an anus through which unabsorbed material leaves the body.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "alimentary canal." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "alimentary canal." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-alimentarycanal.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "alimentary canal." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-alimentarycanal.html

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alimentary canal

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

alimentary canal Digestive tract of an animal that begins with the mouth, continues through the oesophagus to the stomach and intestines, and ends at the anus. It is about 9m (30ft) long in humans. See also digestive system

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alimentary canal

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

alimentary canal (ali-ment-er-i) n. the long passage, extending from the mouth to the anus, through which food passes to be digested and absorbed.

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alimentary canal

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | | Copyright

alimentary canal See gastro‐intestinal tract.

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DAVID A. BENDER. "alimentary canal." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "alimentary canal." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-alimentarycanal.html

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alimentary canal

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

alimentary canal see digestive system .

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Down the alimentary canal with gun and camera. (gas chromatography) (column) Magazine article from: R & D; 6/1/1990
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	Foods of age-0 Rio Grande silvery minnows (Hybognathus amarus) reared in... Magazine article from: Southwestern Naturalist; 12/1/2009