Question #139bd

1 Answer
glerp
Aug 15, 2017

It prevents the backflow of chyme and regulates its flow from the stomach to the intestine.

Explanation:

![https://useruploads.socratic.org/zhjWo9JPQuW9dFv218cc_pyloric_sphincter.jpg)

The pyloric sphincter briefly opens to lets a small amount of chyme (food particles mixed with gastric juice stored in the stomach) into the duodenum (beginning section of the small intestine).

This happens because the nutrients from the food need to be absorbed thoroughly. If all the chyme were to enter the duodenum at once, it would all be pushed along too quickly.

It also makes sure chyme does not flow back into the stomach. If this happened, absorption of nutrients would be very inefficient and time-consuming.

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