Why? The Science of Athletics

I 08 WHY?-THE SCIENCE OF ATHLETICS - Involuntary Muscles In the human system there are many involuntary muscles, which are not con– trolled by our own will-power, nor even consciously actuated by us. The involuntary muscles which concern us most intimately, I suppose, from the point of view of training, are the ones that deal with our digestion. Food, of course, is swallowed by a more or less voluntary action of the upper part of the throat. First, however, it is, by our oldest hereditary instincts, submitted to our senses of sight and smell, no matter how unconsciously we may apply these tests. Nor is this all, for the tiny little taste-buds on our tongues are the means by which we finally decide whether we approve of what is given us to eat. The muscles then set the lower jaw in action and our teeth begin to grind the food, which it is their job to break up into particles, but much of this is done now– adays in the preparation and cooking of the food before ever it comes to our mouths. As the teeth begin _grinding the food certain glands pour out saliva and start the diges– tion of starchy food-stuffs by converting them into a kind of sugar. That is why athletes should always eat slowly and chew their food thoroughly. The Process of ''·· Digestion When a mouthful of food has been thoroughly masticated the strong muscles at the back of the mouth relax, other muscles close the air-passages to the nose and lungs and the food enters the pharynx, which is the first part of the alimentary tube. That tube is some– where about eight-and-twenty feet in length from the pharynx to the vent. The food passes on from the– pharynx, by way of the gullet, to the stomach, which is fitted with a special arrangement of involuntary muscles which churn up the food so that it will mix with acid and ferment for some hours. When this process is finished the three layers of plain muscle fibres close the empty stomach right up and after about four hours we become hungry. The inner wall of the stomach is well supplied with blood