Steps to which a chick can swallow a corn of grain?

1. The chick will first need to peck at the corn of grain to break it into smaller pieces that are easier to swallow.
2. The chick will then use its beak to pick up the smaller pieces of corn and place them in its mouth.
3. The chick will use its tongue to move the pieces of corn to the back of its throat.
4. The chick will then use its throat muscles to push the pieces of corn down into its crop, a pouch in its esophagus where food is stored and softened before being digested.
5. The chick will then slowly digest the corn of grain in its crop before it moves on to the next stage of digestion in its stomach.

Step 1: Beak Prehension

- The chick uses its beak to grasp the corn kernel from the ground.

Step 2: Tongue Positioning

- The chick positions its tongue behind the corn kernel, forming a cup-like shape.

Step 3: Muscular Contraction

- Muscles in the tongue contract, pushing the corn kernel towards the back of the throat.

Step 4: Esophageal Peristalsis

- Wave-like contractions in the esophagus (food tube) propel the corn kernel down the digestive tract.

Step 5: Crop Storage

- The corn kernel temporarily enters the crop, a muscular sac at the base of the esophagus, for later digestion.

Step 6: Gizzard Grinding

- The crop releases the corn kernel into the gizzard, a muscular stomach that contains abrasive stones.
- The stones grind the corn kernel, breaking it down into smaller pieces.

Step 7: Absorption and Digestion

- The ground corn kernel passes into the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed.
- The remaining undigested material is passed into the large intestine and eventually excreted.