An Overview of Digestion Flashcards
ingestion
refers to taking food into mouth
peristalsis
moves food through the alimentary canal by waves of muscle contraction
digestion describes
the breakdown of food
mechanical digestion
physically breaks down food into small pieces
chemical digestion
splits complex molecules into smaller molecuels
absorption
describes the movement of diegsted food from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream or lymphatic system for distribution of cells
defecatation
refers to the elimation of indigestible substances from the body
the alimentary canal
a muscular tube that extends from the mouth to the anus
the alimentary canal consists of
mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine
accessory structures include
the teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, pancreas, and gall bladder
accessory structure functions
either prepare food for digestion or produce and store secretions that aid in digestion
the mucosa is
the inner lining of the alimentary canal and it consists of sublayers
histology of mucosa
simple columnar epithelium exists throughout most of alimentary canal, but stratified squamous epithelium lines alimentary canal from mouth to stomach and alse anal canal where abrasion mostly occurs
lamina propria
areolar connective tissue that contains blood and lymphatic vessels
lamina propria contains lymphoid tissue to
protect the gastrointestinal tract against bacteria