What is the cefalic phase?

The

cefalic phase is the first of the three phases associated with the stomach secretions in the digestive system. It is a point in which the brain sends a signal through the vagus nerve to the stomach, which triggers the production of stomach juices. Specifically, the cefalic phase begins with the eyes, smell or taste of food and ends as soon as the first bite is swallowed. Once the food is swallowed and entered into the digestive system, it will take over the stomach and intestinal phases.

In many ways, the cefalic phase is similar to heating the gas combustion engine. Most gas internal combustion engines require a certain type of oil to facilitate internal movement. The ignition key or switch signals the oil so that it starts to circulate in the engine with an electric wire. The cefalic phase is similar in that the senses serve as a key, the vagus nerve serves as an electric wire and peptic and stomach acids act as oil.

expectations is the key to the cefalic phase. Cefalic, by definition, relates into the head or especially in the case of digestion, especially the brain. Vision, smell or scentFollowing the food stimulates the brain with respect to food. Immediately after hunger or initial eating reports, the brain must pass this information to the stomach to initiate the production of acid enzymes in preparation for digestion. For the digestive process, stomach enzymes and similar stomach secretions are essential because they break down food into usable proteins, sugars and other ingredients.

Without a cephical stage, the stomach could not produce the necessary digestive enzymes until the food was reached. Even if it would not prohibit digestion, this process would really slow down. The gastric did not make the gastric of the stomach during the stomach phase that would receive the body, which would reduce stomach juice 50 percent. Proper digestion requires specific chemicals relaxed at the right intervals to provide the body with the most effective method of nutrient absorption.

In addition to a more efficient digestive processCephal phase huge impact on the subsequent digestive phase. During the gastric phase of gastrin and histamine, the pH of the stomach content. The lack of cefalic phase would have consequences that would negatively affect the existing pH levels at the beginning of the stomach phase. The absence of initial peptic acids or a decrease in initial levels during the cefalic phase could cause an increase or decrease in pH during the stomach phase, resulting in poor digestion and less effective intestinal phase.