Biology / Unit 12 Bio 2799 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Neural Control: Three Digestive Phases
Captions available
The idea
Digestion runs through three neural phases: cephalic, beginning before food arrives, triggered by sight or smell; gastric, beginning once food enters the stomach; and intestinal, beginning once chyme reaches the intestine.
In practice
Thinking about a favorite food can trigger cephalic-phase salivation before any food is present.
Where people slip
All three phases overlap — the gastric phase builds on cephalic stimulation rather than starting fresh.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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