The bolus is then moved by peristalsis through the esophagus and into the stomach, where hydrochloric acid is secreted and pepsin begins the digestion process.
The bolus is broken down with the help of three major pairs of salivary glands that churn out an average of 1.5 liters of slightly acidic saliva every day.
The resulting ball of mush actually has its own special name — it's a bolus and the tongue rolls it back to the pharynx, in preparation for swallowing.
Together, they perform what's called peristalsis, which is a series of coordinated wave-like muscle contractions that helps squeeze the food bolus in one direction.