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
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is part of the United States National Institutes of Health, which in turn is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. NIDDK is approximately the fifth-largest of the 27 NIH institutes. The institute's mission is to support research, training, and communication with the public in the topic areas of "diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutritional disorders, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases". As of 2015, the Director of the institute is Dr.