digestive system Flashcards
The digestive or gastrointestinal system performs four main functions:
ingestion
digestion
•absorption
•elimination
Ingestion
food material taken into mouth
Digestion
food is broken down, mechanically and chemically, as it travels through the gastrointestinal tract.
Digestive enzymes aid the breakdown of complex nutrients.
- Proteins → amino acids
- Sugars → glucose
- Fats → fatty acids or triglycerides
Absorption
Digested food passes into the bloodstream through lining cells of the small intestine.
•Nutrients travel to all cells of the body.
•Cells burn nutrients to release the energy stored in food.
Elimination
- The body eliminates solid waste materials that cannot be absorbed into bloodstream.
- The large intestine concentrates feces.
- The wastes pass out of the body through the anus.
Organs of the Digestive System
The gastrointestinal tract begins with the oral cavity.
Besides producing bile, the liver:
- Helps maintain normal blood glucose levels •Manufactures blood proteins necessary for clotting •Releases bilirubin, a pigment in bile
- Removes toxins and poisons from the blood
What happens if bilirubin cannot leave the body and remains in the bloodstream?
Hyperbilirubinemia
Function of the pancreas
Endocrine function: insulin in bloodstream cell
Exocrine function: enzymes in duodenum for digestion
Which term is the first part of the large intestine?
Cecum
Which term means swallowing?
Deglutition
absorption
Passage of materials through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream
amino acids
Small building blocks of proteins; released when proteins are digested
amylase
Enzyme secreted by the pancreas and salivary glands to digest starch
anus
Terminal end or opening of the digestive tract to the outside of body
appendix
Blind pouch hanging from the cecum
bile
Digestive juice made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder; breaks up large fat globules; composed of bile pigments, cholesterol, and bile salts
bilirubin
Pigment released by the liver in bile
bowel
Intestine
canine teeth
Pointed, dog-like teeth next to the incisors; also called cuspids or eyeteeth
cecum
First part of the large intestine
colon
Consists of the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid segments
common bile duct
Carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum; also called the choledochus
defecation
Elimination of feces from the digestive tract through the anus
deglutition
Swallowing
dentin
Primary material found in teeth; covered by the enamel in the crown and a protective layer of cementum in the root
duodenum
First part of the small intestine; measures 12 inches long
elimination
Act of removal of materials from the body
emulsification
Physical process of breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules
enamel
Hard, outermost layer of a tooth
enzyme
Chemical that speeds up reactions between substances; enzyme names end in –ase
esophagus
Tube connecting the throat to the stomach
fatty acids
Substances produced when fats are digested; a category of lipids
feces
Solid wastes; stool
gallbladder
Small sac under the liver; stores bile
glucose
Simple sugar
glycogen
Starch; glucose is stored in the form of glycogen in liver cells
hydrochloric acid
Substance produced in the stomach; necessary for digestion of food
ileum
Third part of the small intestine
incisor
One of four front teeth in the dental arch
insulin
Hormone produced by endocrine cells of the pancreas; transports sugar from the blood into cells and stimulates glycogen formation by the liver
jejunum
Second part of the small intestine
lipase
Pancreatic enzyme needed to digest fats
liver
Large organ located in the RUQ of the abdomen; secretes bile; stores sugar, iron, and vitamins; produces blood proteins; destroys worn-out RBCs; filters out toxins; normal adult liver weighs about 2 ½ to 3 pounds
lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
Ring of muscles between the esophagus and stomach; cardiac sphincter
mastication
Chewing
molar teeth
Sixth, seventh, and eighth teeth from the middle on either side of the dental arch
palate
Roof of the mouth
pancreas
Organ behind the stomach; produces insulin and enzymes
papillae (singular: papilla)
Small, projections on the tongue
parotid gland
Salivary gland within the cheek, just anterior to the ear
peristalsis
Rhythmic contractions of the tubular organs
pharynx
Throat, the common passageway for food from the mouth and for air from the nose
portal vein
Large vein bringing blood to the liver from the intestines
protease
Enzyme that digests protein
pulp
Soft tissue within a tooth, containing nerves and blood vessels
pyloric sphincter
Ring of muscle at the end of the stomach, near the duodenum; opens when a wave of peristalsis passes over it
pylorus
Distal region of the stomach, opening to the duodenum
rectum
Last section of the large intestine, connecting the end of the colon and the anus
rugae
Ridges on the hard palate and the wall of the stomach
saliva
Digestive juice produced by salivary glands; contains the enzyme amylase
salivary glands
Parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands
sigmoid colon
Fourth and last, S-shaped segment of the colon, just before the rectum; empties into the rectum
stomach
Muscular organ that receives food from the esophagus
triglycerides
Fat molecules composed of three parts fatty acids and one part glycerol; subgroup of lipids
uvula
Soft tissue hanging from the middle of the soft palate
villi (singular: villus)
Microscopic projections in the wall of the small intestine that absorb nutrients into the bloodstream
Which term means inflammation of the lip?
Cheilitis
Anorexia
lack of appetite
Ascites
abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
Borborygmi
rumbling or gurgling noises produced by the movement of gas, fluid, or both in the GI tract
Constipation
difficulty in passing stools
Diarrhea
frequent passage of loose, watery stool
Dysphagia
difficulty in swallowing
Eructation
gas expelled from the stomach through the mouth
Flatus
gas expelled through the anus
Hematochezia
passage of fresh, bright red blood from the rectum
Jaundice (icterus)
yellow-orange coloration of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood
Melena
black, tarry stools; feces containing digested blood
Nausea
unpleasant sensation in the stomach with a tendency to vomit
Steatorrhea
fat in the feces; frothy, foul-smelling fecal matter
Aphthous stomatitis
inflammation of the mouth with small, painful ulcers
Dental caries
tooth decay
Herpetic stomatitis
inflammation of the mouth by infection with the herpes virus
Oral leukoplakia
white plaques or patches
Periodontal disease
inflammation and degeneration of the gums, teeth and surrounding bone
Achalasia
failure of the lower esophagus sphincter (LES) muscle to relax
Esophageal cancer
malignant tumor of the esophagus
Gastric carcinoma
malignant tumor of the stomach
Esophageal varices
swollen, varicose veins at the lower end of the esophagus
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
solids and fluids return to the mouth from the stomach
Peptic ulcer
open sore or lesion of the mucous membrane of the stomach or duodenum
Hernia
protrusion of an organ or part through the muscle normally containing it
Anal fistula
abnormal tube-like passageway near the anus
Colonic polyposis
polyps protrude from the mucous membrane of the colon
Colorectal cancer
adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum or both
Crohn disease
chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract
Diverticulosis
abnormal side pockets (outpouchings) in the intestinal wall
Dysentery
painful, inflamed intestines
Hemorrhoids
swollen, twisted, varicose veins in the rectal region
Ileus
failure of peristalsis with resulting obstruction of the intestines
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) –
inflammation of the colon and small intestine
Intussusception
telescoping of the intestines
IBS
irritable bowel syndrome – group of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with stress and tension
Ulcerative colitis
chronic inflammation of the colon with the presence of ulcers
Volvulus
twisting of the intestines on itself
Cirrhosis
chronic degenerative disease of the liver
Hepatocellular carcinomaq (HCC)
liver cancer
Pancreatic cancer
malignant tumor of the pancreas
Pancreatitis
inflammation of the pancreas
Viral hepatitis
inflammation of the liver caused by a virus
Cholelithiasis
gallstones in the gallbladder