Sympathetic nerves inhibit the secretion of serous saliva. The throat and the esophagus transport the food from the mouth to the stomach. The stomach acts like a reservoir. It holds all the food that comes into the mouth during each meal. The stomach does not move all the food it holds directly to the small intestine.
Food is moved in small amounts and at regular intervals into the small intestine.
The small intestine receives dissolved food particles from the stomach. The small intestine continues the mechanical activities that mix the food particles with intestinal juice and propels it forward. Intestinal juices contain secretions from the glands of the small intestine and the large accessory digestive glands - the pancreas and liver. The pancreas secretes an alkaline juice rich in hydrolytic enzymes. The pancreatic secretion chemically digests virtually all the food particles.