alleryStart learning →How long is the alimentary canal in a living person?
AAbout 3.05 meters, or 10 feet
BAbout 7.62 meters, or 25 feet
CAbout 10.67 meters, or 35 feet
DAbout 15.2 meters, or 50 feet
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. About 7.62 meters, or 25 feet
1. The alimentary canal is a one-way tube running from the mouth to the anus.
2. During life its length is about 7.62 meters, which is 25 feet.
3. The figure of 10.67 meters, or 35 feet, is the length measured after death, once smooth muscle tone is lost.
4. About 3.05 meters is the length of the small intestine alone, not the whole canal.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 23 "The Digestive System", section 23.1 Overview of the Digestive System_
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