Digestive system of humpback whales with a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium which is continuous of the oesophagus epithelium. Due to the reflux of stomach juices from the main stomach, minor digestive activity takes place in the forestomach. The main stomach, also referred to as the fundic stomach, secretes mucus, protein digesting enzymes and hydrochloric acid to aid the breakdown of food and lined. The stomach lining is reddish–purple, highly convoluted and sometimes trabeculate epithelium. The pyloric stomach secretes enzymes that digest fat as well as alkaline chemicals to neutralize the stomach acid. It is the combined actions of these different compartments that allow whales to
Human digestive system In the duodenum, pancreatic lipase is secreted together with a co-enzyme, colipase to further digest the fat content of the chyme. From this breakdown, smaller particles of emulsified fats called chylomicrons are produced. There are also digestive cells called enterocytes lining the intestines (the majority being in the small intestine). They are unusual cells in that they have villi on their surface which in turn have innumerable microvilli on their surface. All these villi make for a greater surface area, not only for the absorption of chyme but also for its further digestion by large numbers of digestive enzymes present