What is gastric emptying?

• A. Movement of chyme into the colon.
• B. The process by which stomach contents move into the small intestine, regulated by the pyloric sphincter and duodenal feedback.
• C. Absorption of nutrients in the stomach.
• D. Secretion of gastric acid.

Answer: (B)

Gastric emptying is the movement of stomach contents into the small intestine in a controlled, stepwise way. The pyloric sphincter at the stomach’s outlet acts as a gate, letting only small amounts of chyme pass at a time. The rate is adjusted by feedback from the duodenum: if the chyme is too acidic, fatty, or concentrated, signals slow the process to give the small intestine time to neutralize acids, digest fats, and absorb nutrients. This regulation prevents overload and coordinates digestion. It’s not about absorbing nutrients in the stomach, secreting gastric acid, or moving contents into the colon.