Question 1

how does your digestive tract maintain peristalsis?

Accepted Answer

The small brain!: The largest collection or neurons in the body outside of the"bog" brain is the mesenteric plexus inside your abdomen.  It controls movement, the complex secretion of over 50 hormones. Of note:there are more serotonin receptors by five compared to the big brain, for which we use prozac (fluoxetine). In a lecture i once heard two years ago, irritable bowel syndrome was said to be "depression" of the small brain!

Question 2

how exactly does food move through the digestive tract?

Accepted Answer

From top to bottom: Fodd is chewed (hopefully) in the mouth, and swallowed by coordinated muscular contractions in the mouth and throat, entering the esophagus, where the same muscular contractions push it down to the stomach. Churning action and enzymes, acid break the food chunks into smaller particles that are pushed, again by muscles of the GI tract, through the small intestine, eventually to reach the colon.

Question 3

how does the body protect against the entry of pathogens through the digestive tract?

Accepted Answer

Toxic enviorment: Strong gastric acid and digestive enzymes are a potent barrier. and those that get by this first line of defence are attacked by WBCs and immunoglobins
Even Probiotics have a poor chance so don't waste your money

Question 4

simple...can juiced beets transit through the digestive tract in five-hours. i juiced, drank, and 5 hours later my stool was red, is this the beets?

Accepted Answer

Probably: Simple- yes, it can transit the GI tract in 5 hours and yes, beet juice commonly causes red stools. 
Can't say with complete certainty it was the juice but seems very likely. If red stool persists take sample to Dr. for testing.

Question 5

if you take metamucil or flaxseed too soon after taking medication, sweeping them through the digestive tract too quickly, is there any risk of injury?

Accepted Answer

Not as you surmise: Metamucil and flaxseed in can reduce constipation in the same way any other natural or supplemental fiber does.  Neither speed up intestinal transit time to any significant degree or cause injury in recommended doses.  However, fiber can bind to certain medications, decreasing their absorption.  As a general rule, you should separate fiber supplements from medication intake by two + hours.

Question 6

what causes ulcers in the mouth and all the way through the digestive tract and on the vaginal area?

Accepted Answer

Sjogren's is rare...: Usually small ulcers, or aphthous ulcers, are benign symptoms and are similar to canker sores.  They can be caused by viruses, eating too many acidic or sugar-rich foods and candies.  If the sores are also in vagina or in GI tract, you should be evaluated by a doctor.  Any persistent sore in your mouth should be evaluated by dentist or physician!

Question 7

the enzymes which enter the digestive tract through the duodenum are produced in what organ?

Accepted Answer

Many: Bile comes from the gallbladder and liver, pancreatic enzymes from the (guess what?) pancreas, acid and other enzymes from the stomach lining and small intestinal lining. Even your salivary glands in your mouth get in on the action, making amylase--a communal effort.

Question 8

my whole digestive tract (from throat through bowels to rectum) is always gurgling. doctor says it's likely ibs/gerd, but no medications work to stop it, i've tried antacids, gas-x etc, only thing that seems to work a little is peppermint tea?

Accepted Answer

: The gurgling is due to peristaltis, contractions of the intestinal tract moving juices,foods down towards the colon &amp;rectum. Apparently you don't have any other symptoms like loose stools, cramps,bloating,heartburn. If the gurgling is a nuisance a medication like dicyclomine could quiet those intestinal gurgling sounds.

Question 9

why do we share a respiratory system with a digestive tract?

Accepted Answer

Ontogeny: Recapitulates Phylogeny.
This article explains the whole concept:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recapitulation_theory

Question 10

if there was a problem with my spleen would it affect my digestive tract? and how so? been this way since my hystractomy.

Accepted Answer

Speen problems: A great many things can affect your digestive tract.   It would help to have much more detail on what your problem is, and why you are concerned about your spleen.

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Doctor answers about:

Food moves through the digestive tract by peristalsis which is produced by wavelike contractions of muscles

A member asked:

How does your digestive tract maintain peristalsis?

A member asked:

How exactly does food move through the digestive tract?

A member asked:

How does the body protect against the entry of pathogens through the digestive tract?

A member asked:

Simple...can juiced beets transit through the digestive tract in five-hours. i juiced, drank, and 5 hours later my stool was red, is this the beets?

A member asked:

If you take metamucil or flaxseed too soon after taking medication, sweeping them through the digestive tract too quickly, is there any risk of injury?

A member asked:

What causes ulcers in the mouth and all the way through the digestive tract and on the vaginal area?

A member asked:

The enzymes which enter the digestive tract through the duodenum are produced in what organ?

A member asked:

My whole digestive tract (from throat through bowels to rectum) is always gurgling. doctor says it's likely ibs/gerd, but no medications work to stop it, i've tried antacids, gas-x etc, only thing that seems to work a little is peppermint tea?

A member asked:

Why do we share a respiratory system with a digestive tract?

A member asked:

If there was a problem with my spleen would it affect my digestive tract? and how so? been this way since my hystractomy.

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