What is the correct order of food travel through the gastrointestinal tract?

The accurate sequence of food traveling through the gastrointestinal tract starts at the mouth, where the process of digestion begins through chewing and the action of saliva. From the mouth, food moves into the pharynx, which is a shared pathway for both food and air.

Next, the food enters the esophagus, a muscular tube that transports food from the pharynx to the stomach via peristaltic movements. Once in the stomach, food is mixed with gastric juices, breaking it down further in preparation for absorption. After the stomach, the partially digested food enters the small intestine, where most nutrient absorption occurs. Finally, whatever remains that cannot be digested moves into the large intestine, where water is reabsorbed, and waste is prepared for elimination.

This order reflects the physiological route that food takes through the digestive system, emphasizing the roles that each part plays in processing food efficiently. The other choices do not follow this systematic pathway, demonstrating a misunderstanding of gastrointestinal anatomy and the sequential nature of digestion.