During gastric emptying, chyme is released into the duodenum through the ________.
A. esophageal hiatus
B. pyloric antrum
C. pyloric canal
D. pyloric sphincter
c) pyloric sphincter
- Correct: During gastric emptying, chyme (partially digested food) is released from the stomach into the duodenum through the pyloric sphincter. The pyloric sphincter is a muscular valve located at the junction between the stomach and the duodenum. It regulates the passage of chyme from the stomach into the small intestine, allowing for controlled release and preventing backflow of intestinal contents into the stomach.
a) pyloric antrum
- Incorrect: The pyloric antrum is the lower portion of the stomach that leads into the pyloric canal. It is involved in mixing and churning food, but it does not regulate the release of chyme into the duodenum.
b) pyloric canal
- Incorrect: The pyloric canal is the narrow portion of the stomach that connects the pyloric antrum to the pyloric sphincter. It is involved in directing chyme toward the pyloric sphincter for release into the duodenum, but it is not the site of chyme release itself.
The esophageal hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes as it descends from the thoracic cavity into the abdominal cavity. It is not directly involved in gastric emptying.
Therefore, the Correct Answer is C.