ABSTRACT
GI physiology begins with mastication within the oral cavity, where there is a small degree of protein and carbohydrate hydrolysis via salivary proteases and glucosidases (Bader 2011). The proximal GI tract is essentially unaltered following bariatric surgery. In one study, no changes in salivary flow or dental disease were noted in patients that underwent bariatric surgery (Marsicano et al. 2012). After swallowing, food boluses propagate through the esophagus to the stomach where an acid environment continues the digestion process. The stomach acts to store ingested food boluses for prolonged acid exposure and can expand in volume to a maximum of 1 to 1.5 L to accommodate the ingestion of large meals (Ramsay and Carr 2011).
