Final answer:
The alimentary canal is a continuous tube that goes from the mouth to the anus with four layers in its wall, and most of its length is the small intestine, not the large intestine.
Step-by-step explanation:
When explaining the alimentary canal to a lab partner, I would likely make the following point: D. The alimentary canal is a continuous tube that extends from the mouth to the anus. The wall of the alimentary canal is composed of four basic tissue layers: the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. The muscularis contributes to the movement of food through the canal by a process called peristalsis, which involves rhythmic contractions of an inner circular layer and an outer longitudinal layer of smooth muscle. The serosa is the outer wrapping layer present in the abdominal cavity, not the producer of peristaltic contractions.
The alimentary canal is actually composed of four tissue layers, with serosa being the outermost layer. It is also important to note that most of the alimentary canal's length is made up of the small intestine, where most digestion and absorption occurs, rather than the large intestine.