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Expert: - 2/12/2008


Question
why does food spends so long in the stomach

Answer
Dear Bhumeshwar,

The stomach is the place where the most "violent" digestion takes place, where proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and other substances are dissolved by special digestive enzymes.  

Breaking large lumps of food into smaller bits that the small intestine can handle takes time, so the stomach acts as a "holding reservoir" where food is kept and processed until it consists of fragments small enough to be handled and further digested by the rest of the digestive tract.

Hope this helps.

Dana

Biology

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Dana Krempels, Ph.D.

Expertise

I can answer biology-related questions in the areas of evolution, zoology, botany, genetics, and ecology. But I don't answer homework questions or provide ideas for your science fair projects. So students please do your learning the right way by reading your text assignments and studying!

Experience

At the University of Miami, I teach Evolution and Biodiversity, Botany, Zoology, Genetics, Ecology, and a variety of seminars (e.g., the Biology and Evolution of Human Gender Roles).

Education/Credentials
I have a B.S. in Biology and an A.B. in English from the University of Southern California (1980). I earned my Ph.D. in Biology in the area of evolutionary biology/visual physiology from the University of Miami in 1989.

Past/Present Clients
I am currently an "expert" in both the "Rabbits" and "Wild Animals" categories.

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