. Flashcards
What’s the mouth
An opening through which food passes into the body; breaks food into small particles by mastication (chewing) and mixing with saliva
Tongue
Consists mostly of skeleton muscle; attached in the posterior region of the mouth. It provides movement of food for mastication, directs food to the pharynx for swallowing and is a major organ for taste and speech
Palate
Separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity
Soft palate
Posterior portion, not supported by bone
Hard palate
( front area of mouth)
Anterior portion, supported by bone
Uvula
Soft V-shaped structure that extends from the soft palate; directs food into the throat
Pharynx
Performs the swallowing action that passes food from the mouth into the esophagus
Esophagus
10 inch (25cm) tube that is a passageway for food extending the pharynx to the stomach. Peristalsis, involuntary wavelike movement that propel food along the gastrointestinal tract, begins in the esophagus
Stomach
J-shaped sac that mixes and stores food. Its secret chemicals for digestion and hormones that act locally to control digestive system functions
Cardia
Area around the opening of the esophagus
Fundus
Proximal domed portion of the stomach
Body
Central portion of the stomach, distal to the fundus
Antrum
Distal portion of the stomach
Pylorus
Portion of the stomach that connects to the small intestine
Pyloric sphincter
Ring of muscles that guards the opening between the stomach and the duodenum
Small intestine
20-foot (6-m) tube extending from the pyloric sphincter to the large instestine. Digestion is completely in the small intestine to the bloodstream, takes place through the villi, tiny finger like projections that line the walls of the small intestine
Duodenum
First 10 to 12 inches (25 cm) of the small intestine