Final answer:
Blinking in response to bright light is a reflex that protects the eyes and involves the corneal reflex or the eye blink reflex, while the movement of food through the alimentary canal is controlled by a process called peristalsis, involving involuntary smooth muscle contractions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The blinking of an eye when bright light is forced and the movement of food in the alimentary canal are different actions because they involve different nervous system pathways and muscles. Blinking in reaction to bright light is a protective reflex known as the corneal reflex or the eye blink reflex, which is an involuntary, rapid movement to protect the eyes. The sensory component involved in blinking travels through either the trigeminal nerve in response to a tactile stimulus or the optic nerve when the stimulus is bright light. Motor response is then carried via the facial nerve, activating the orbicularis oculi muscle to cause blinking.
In contrast, the movement of food in the alimentary canal involves a process called peristalsis, which is an involuntary, coordinated action of smooth muscle contractions pushing the food through the digestive tract. This process is controlled by the enteric nervous system, which works independently of the central nervous system, distinguishing it from the reflexive action of blinking.