17 - The Digestive System Flashcards
Another term for the GI tract (digestive tract)
Alimentary canal
The process of absorbing substances into cells or across tissues.
Absorption
The terminal opening of the GI tract
Anus
The first section of the large intestine, beginning in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen and ending in the upper right quandrant at the transverse colon.
Ascending colon
A yellow-green liquid substance secreted by the liver that aids in the absorption of fats; stored in the gall bladder.
Bile
Food that has been acted upon by digestive enzymes but has not yet passed into the small intestine.
Chyme
A duct that transports bile from the liver and gall bladder to the duodenum.
Common bile duct
The duct that connects the common bile duct to the gall bladder.
Cystic duct
The fourth segment of the large intestine that connects the transverse colon to the sigmoid colon.
Descending colon
The first segment of the small intestine connecting the pelorus and the jejunum.
Duodenum
The segment of the digestive tract between the pharynx and the stomach.
Esophagus
A ring of striated muscle fibers surrounding the anal opening.
External anal sphincter
The bottom of any hollow organ, such as the stomach.
Fundus
The organ that stores the bile that is produced in the liver; involved in the absorption of fats.
Gallbladder
The liquid secretions of the stomach.
Gastric juice
The gums of the mouth.
Gingivae
Part of the peritoneum, the sac that covers most of the intestines.
Greater omentum
The entryway to the colon from the small intestine.
Ileocecal valve
The last segment of the small intestine connecting with the large intestine.
Ileum
The ring of smooth muscle surrounding the internal part of the anal opening.
Internal anal sphincter
The segment of the small intestine connecting the duodenum to the ileum.
Jejunum
The digestive organ that forms and transports waste matter from the rest of the GI tract.
Large intestine
Part of the peritoneum that connects the stomach and liver.
Lower omentum
A digestive organ in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen that plays a major role in metabolism, digestion, and elimination.
Liver
The process of chewing food.
Mastication
The membrane that connects the intestine to the abdominal wall.
Mesentery
The fold of the peritoneum that is attached to the colon.
Mesocolon
The mucous membrane lining the GI tract
Mucosa
The muscular inner coating of the GI tract.
Muscularis
A small organ that lies behind the stomach and secretes powerful digestive enzymes into the small bowel as well as the hormones that regulate blood sugar (insulin and glucagon).
Pancreas
Salivary glands in front of and inferior to the ear.
Parotid salivary glands
The smooth membrane that lines the abdomen. It folds back over the organs.
Peritoneum
The thick muscular valve that allows food to move into the duodenum.
Pyloric sphincter
The opening from the stomach to the intestine.
Pylorus
The last segment of the large intestine that joins the sigmoid colon and the anus.
Rectum
The folds of the gastic mucosa (stomach lining).
Rugae
The secretions of the salivary glands
Saliva
Glands that produce saliva to moisten the oral cavity and food; saliva contains antibodies and other substances that protect against infections in the mouth as well as enzymes that aid in the digestion of carbohydrates.
Salivary glands
The segment of the colon that connects the descending colon to the rectum.
Sigmoid colon
The tube of the GI tract with three distinct segments (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) that are involved in the absorption of nutrients into the body. In the human adult, it is approximately 22 feet long.
Small intestine
The largest portion of the GI tract, situated between the esophagus and the small intestine. It secretes gastric juices to assist in the breakdown of food.
Stomach
Salivary glands located under the tongue.
Sublingual salivary glands
Salivary glands located under the jawbone
Submandibular salivary glands
The layer of tissue beneath a mucous membrane.
Submucosa
The hard appendages in the mouth made of dentine and enamel that enable mastication (chewing)
Teeth
The tear-shaped appendage hanging down in the center of the edge of the soft palate.
Uvula
Tiny projections on the inner intestine walls that aid in absorption
Villi
A contriction in the lower portion of the esophagus caused by unrelaxed sphincter muscles.
Achalasia
The abnormal return of stomach contents back into the esophagus.
Acid reflux
Fibrous bands abnormally binding to tissue (such as scar tissue).
Adhesion
An eating disorder characterized by an unrealistic self-image of the body, with a pathological fear of becoming fat, excessive dieting, and emaciation. No loss of appetite occurs until the late stages of the disease; primarily affects girls and young women.
Anorexia nervosa
An inflammation of the appendix
Appendicitis
“Rumbling” noises in the GI tract, caused by gas moving through the intestines.
Borborygmus
An eating disorder characterized by self-induced purging (vomiting and/or diuretic and laxative abuse) after binge eating; strict dieting, fasting, or obsessive exercising to prevent weight gain.
Bulimia nervosa
A small, painful crater in the mouth; also called an aphthous ulcer.
Canker sore
An inflammation of the gallbladder
Cholecystitis
The loss of healthy tissue accompanied by fibrosis and chronic inflammation.
Cirrhosis of the liver
An inflammation of the colon
Colitis
The surgical construction of an artificial opening of the colon through the abdominal wall as a treatment for serious digestive problems.
Colostomy
Difficulty in eliminating feces
Constipation
Chronic inflammation of the digestive or GI tract
Crohn disease
Overly frequent and loose or fluid evacuations of the large intestine
Diarrhea
An inflammation of a sac-like appendage on the inside walls of the large intestine.
Diverticulitis
Difficulty in swallowing.
Dysphagia
An inflammation of the small intestine
Enteritis
A mass in the groin stemming from a looped large intestine that occurs most frequently in overweight females.
Femoral hernia
Digestive gas
Flatus
A chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, usually accompanied by gallstones.
Gallbladder disease
An inflammation of the stomach
Gastritis
An acute inflammation of the lining of the GI tract
Gastroenteritis
An inflammation of the gums
Gingivitis
Indigestion accompanied by a burning sensation.
Heartburn
A generally non-life-threatening disease that is transmitted though contaminated food and drink and causes flu-like symptoms after a 2-week incubation period.
Hepatitis A
A viral diease, spread by contact with contaminated blood or passed through the placenta from mother to child; a person can be a carrier and be asymptomatic; sever infections are characteristic, as is cirrhosis of the liver.
Hepatitis B
A viral disease most commonly caused through the transfusion of infected blood; spreading by sexual contact is rare. The signs and symptoms are similar to that of Hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C
A protusion of an organ through the body wall or into another organ, such as a loop of the large intestine protruding through the abdomen.
Hernia
A type of hernia in which part of the stomach is protruding through the diaphragm.
Hiatal hernia
Name given to a group of disorders that cause inflammation to the instestines.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBI)
A chronic condition of the large intestine, characterized by recurrent abdominal cramps and diarrhea, often alternating with periods of constipation; usually attributed to stress.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
A yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, caused by a buildup of a bile pigment.
Jaundice
Inadequate nutrition, but not the same thing as starvation. A person could eat three meals per day and still have this.
Malnutrition
A queasy feeling in the GI tract or general abdomen, often culminating in vomiting.
Nausea
Excessive fat in the body.
Obesity
An ulcer in the esophagus, stomach, or proximal small intestine, caused by gastric juices eating through the mucous membrane.
Peptic ulcer
Regurgitation of the stomach contents
Vomiting.
