Download Name: Date: How Long Does It Take to Digest Your Food? Part 1

Name: ___________________________
Date: _______________________
How Long Does It Take to Digest Your Food?
Part 1:
1. Complete the chart. below Your digestive system is 887 cm long!
Organ
Percent of Digestive Tract
Length in cm
(Length = % x .01 x 887)
Esophagus
3%
Stomach
3.5%
Small Intestine
76%
Large Intestine
17%
Rectum
1.5%
2. Which part of the digestive system is the longest? Why do you think it is the
longest? Explain.
Part 2:
3. Now calculate the time it would take for a cupcake to pass through each
part of the digestive tract. It takes 27 hours for food to completely pass
through your digestive tract.
Organ
% of Digestive Tract
Time in Hours
(Time = % x .01 X 27)
Esophagus
1%
Stomach
15%
Small Intestine
18%
Large Intestine
67%
4. Which part of the digestive system does “food” spend the longest amount of
time? Why do you think this is?