Digestive System: Alimentary Canal

      The alimentary canal is 9 meters long from the mouth to the anus. The seven main parts of the alimentary canal is the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anal canal. The structure of the wall of the alimentary canal is that it's composed of the mucosa, submucosa, muscular layer, and the serosa. 'The mucosa protects tissues and carries out absorption. The submucosa contains glands, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves. The muscular layer is a smooth muscle tissue, circular and longitudinal fibers, and pushes food. Last, the serosa is the visceral peritoneum, outer covering of the tube, and it moistens and lubricates structures." http://www.biologycorner.com/anatomy/digestive/notes_digestive.html  The movements of the tube are mixing movements and propelling movements. Mixing movements are "rhythmic contractions that mix food with digestive juices. Propelling movements are "rings of muscles that contract and relax to push food down the canal." These are the general characteristics of the alimentary canal in the digestive system.

Resources: http://www.biologycorner.com/anatomy/digestive/notes_digestive.html