What is the Difference Between Alimentary Canal and Digestive System?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between the alimentary canal and the digestive system lies in their components and functions.
The alimentary canal, also known as the digestive tract, is a long tube of organs that makes a pathway for food to travel through the body. It runs from the mouth to the anus and includes the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. The alimentary canal is a part of the digestive system.
On the other hand, the digestive system is a combination of the alimentary canal and digestive glands. It consists of both the alimentary canal and several accessory organs and glands that assist in the digestion process.
In summary, the alimentary canal is a component of the digestive system, while the digestive system is a more comprehensive system that includes additional organs and glands to facilitate the process of digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion.
Comparative Table: Alimentary Canal vs Digestive System
The alimentary canal and the digestive system are related but have distinct functions and compositions. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:
| Feature | Alimentary Canal | Digestive System |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The alimentary canal is a continuous tube that opens to the outside environment at both ends, extending from the mouth to the anus. | The digestive system is a complex of organs responsible for ingesting, digesting, and processing food and liquids. It includes the alimentary canal, accessory structures, and the blood supply, as well as external structures like the teeth. |
| Function | The primary function of the alimentary canal is to nourish the body by providing a passage for food to move from the mouth to the anus. | The digestive system's primary function is to break down large macromolecules into smaller molecules that can be absorbed across the wall of the alimentary canal and into the circulatory system for distribution throughout the body. |
| Components | The alimentary canal consists of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. | The digestive system includes the alimentary canal, teeth, blood supply (including the portal vein to the liver), salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. |
In summary, the alimentary canal is a part of the digestive system, serving as the passageway for food and waste. The digestive system, on the other hand, is a complex of organs and structures that work together to process and absorb nutrients from food.
- Gastrovascular Cavity vs Alimentary Canal
- Alimentary Canal of Herbivores vs Carnivores
- Digestion in Stomach vs Digestion in Intestine
- Rat vs Human Digestive System
- Herbivores vs Carnivores Digestive System
- Cow vs Human Digestive System
- Metabolism vs Digestion
- Digestion vs Absorption
- Ingestion vs Egestion
- Colon vs Intestines
- Monogastric vs Polygastric Digestive System
- Mechanical Digestion vs Chemical Digestion
- Small Intestine vs Large Intestine
- Gut vs Stomach
- Physical vs Chemical Digestion
- Malabsorption vs Maldigestion
- Protein Digestion in Stomach vs Small Intestine
- Digestion in Humans vs Ruminants
- Cardiovascular vs Circulatory System