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.

---

alimentary canal British  

noun

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

---

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

---

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

The alimentary canal, shown in Figure 25.5b, is a more advanced system: it consists of one tube with a mouth at one end and an anus at the other.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Notice that the epithelium is in direct contact with the lumen, the space inside the alimentary canal.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

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

They should not be given in such large or repeated doses as to produce prolonged irritation, or it may be even inflammation, of the alimentary canal.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various