8 Digestive System Flashcards
bolus
a small mass of chewed food
peristalsis
involuntary waves of muscle contraction that move food through the digestive system
chyme
mixture of enzymes and partially-digested food in the stomach and intestines
small intestine
absorbs nutrients, it is the longest portion of the alimentary canal
large intestine
absorbs water
epiglottis
a flap of cartilage that folds down to cover trachea while swallowing
accessory organs of the digestive system
liver, gallbladder, pancreas
liver
produces bile which aids in the digestion of fats
gallbladder
stores bile
pancreas
produces digestive enzymes and insulin
regions of the small intestine
duodenum, jejunum, ileum
parts of the large intestine
cecum, colon, appendix, rectum, anal canal
GERD
a chronic condition in which the liquid contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus causing heartburn
bile
produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder, it contains bile salts that emulsify (break down) fats
saliva
digestive juice produced by salivary glands, it lubricates the oral cavity and contains enzymes that begin the chemical digestion of food
duodenum
first portion of the small intestine, where absorption of nutrients begins
cardiac sphincter
opening from the esophagus to the stomach
pyloric sphincter
opening from the stomach into the duodenum
intestinal obstruction
food or stool cannot move through the intestines due to a complete or partial blockage
jaundice
yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bilirubin in the blood
Crohn’s disease
one of the inflammatory bowel diseases, it causes chronic inflammation of the digestive system
gastroenteritis
inflammation of the lining of the intestines, the “stomach flu”
peptic ulcer
a sore in the lining of the stomach or duodenum that causes burning pain
hemorrhoids
swollen and inflamed veins in the anus or lower rectum
