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No, there is no effect on our stomach contents when we are upside down. The movement of food occurs due to peristalsis and functions independently of gravity.
Have you ever wondered if it was possible to eat while hanging upside down from monkey bars? Will your lunch survive the trip to the other end of your digestive tract or opt for an abrupt gravitational U-turn? Let’s find out!
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The Human Digestive Tract: A Long Tunnel
The Human digestive system is a complex system involving many organs, each of which has a unique role to play. The food we eat undergoes a constant transformation during its journey through the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). The different segments of this long and winding tunnel are:
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Anus
This also explains why we can indeed consume food while hanging upside down. As mentioned before, peristaltic waves are so effective that you can consume an entire meal while you hang upside down. The food is still pushed straight into the stomach, which good news for anyone who wants to spend their days impersonating a bat.
Safe And Secure
A thickened muscular ring called the cardiac sphincter lines the entrance of the stomach. The cardiac sphincter is also known as the lower esophageal sphincter. Think of it as a drawstring on a pouch that secures its contents. It prevents the bolus from slipping back into the oesophagus once it has entered the stomach. When the swallowing reflex is absent, the sphincter closes shut. Yet, in some cases, like that of acid reflux, the sphincter may relax, which causes its contents to slip back, along with digestive juices, and expel out in the form of vomit.
There is another sphincter present at the end of the stomach, known as the pyloric sphincter. The pyloric sphincter prevents the digested food that has entered the small intestine from slipping back into the stomach. The peristaltic waves of contraction continue through the intestines to aid in the passage of food. It then aids in emptying waste from the body in the form of stool.
In conclusion, biology has singlehandedly defeated gravity, thus challenging Isaac Newton’s famous quote, “What goes up must come down”. In short, I’m not saying that you should have lunch while hanging upside down from the monkey bars, but nothing is going to physically stop you from filling yourself up!
