# Is there a regulated digestive system pressure inside the human body

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-regulated-digestive-system-pressure-inside-the-human-body/778737>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 1, 2017, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-regulated-digestive-system-pressure-inside-the-human-body/778737 "2017-02-01T09:07:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-regulated-digestive-system-pressure-inside-the-human-body/778737/1 "2017-02-01T09:07:44Z")

</div>

The blood circulation system in the human body is pressurised and the pressure is regulated by various systems.

Is there a similar pressure system operating in the alimentary canal? What is it called and what are the facts? Whats the value of the pressure and what are the safe limits?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-regulated-digestive-system-pressure-inside-the-human-body/778737/2 "2017-02-01T12:02:45Z")

</div>

> [@Nansbread1](#):
>
> The blood circulation system in the human body is pressurised and the pressure is regulated by various systems.
> 
> Is there a similar pressure system operating in the alimentary canal?

No.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-regulated-digestive-system-pressure-inside-the-human-body/778737/3 "2017-02-01T12:26:10Z")

</div>

The alimentary canal is basically a tube open at both ends (humans are topologically equivalent to doughnuts!)

Yes, it has pinch points and valves, but it’s not a sealed system.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-regulated-digestive-system-pressure-inside-the-human-body/778737/4 "2017-02-01T15:31:37Z")

</div>

As stated, there is no digestive pressure as an analog to blood pressure. Blood moves through the system under pressure created by the pumping of the heart. Food is not moving by a central pump. Food moves through the digestive system through peristalsis, muscular contractions throughout the intestines that move food through it in waves.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-regulated-digestive-system-pressure-inside-the-human-body/778737/5 "2017-02-01T16:26:07Z")

</div>

I have gastro-esphogeal reflux disease, AKA GERD. Which means that the top of my stomach doesn’t close. If my GI tract were pressurized, I’d be spewing vomit all the time.