alimentary canal

American  

noun

1. Anatomy, Zoology. a tubular passage functioning in the digestion and absorption of food and the elimination of food residue, beginning at the mouth and terminating at the anus.

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alimentary canal British  

noun

1. the tubular passage extending from the mouth to the anus, through which food is passed and digested

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alimentary canal Scientific  

/ ăl′ə-mĕn′tə-rē /

1. The tube or passage of the digestive system through which food passes, nutrients are absorbed, and waste is eliminated.

2. See also digestive tract

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Etymology

Origin of alimentary canal

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alimentary canal

Let’s not overlook how long it takes for a federal lawsuit to make its way through the judicial alimentary canal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2025

Earthworms are an example of an animal with an alimentary canal.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Animals belonging to superphylum Lophotrochozoa are protostomes, in which the blastopore, or the point of involution of the ectoderm or outer germ layer, becomes the mouth opening to the alimentary canal.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Figure 23.3 Layers of the Alimentary Canal The wall of the alimentary canal has four basic tissue layers: the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The inflammation extends throughout the whole alimentary canal, increases in virulence, and becomes dysentery, a disease frequently dangerous and obstinate in its character, but, fortunately, not common among sheep, generally, in the United States.

From Sheep, Swine, and Poultry Embracing the History and Varieties of Each; The Best Modes of Breeding; Their Feeding and Management; Together with etc. by Robert Jennings