Digestive System Flashcards
what is the digestive system
a group of organs turning food into nutrients which the body used for energy, growth, and cell repair
what is the role of the mouth in the digestive system
it breaks down food into smaller pieces. has glands that secrete saliva that has enzymes that mix with food to begin breaking it down
what is the role of the throat in the digestive system
takes food from mouth to esophagus
what is the epiglottis
it acts as a switch to route food to esophagus and air to trachea
what is the role of the esophagus in the digestive system
connects throat to stomach , has smooth muscle tissue that contracts and relaxes to help food move
what is the role of the stomach in the digestive system
stores and grinds food and mixes it with a liquid, the acid in stomach kills bacteria
what is the role of the small intestine in the digestive system
it absorbs nutrients
what is villi used for in the digestive system
to increase surface area for absorption
what is the role of the large intestine in the digestive system
it absorbs water and nutrients the small intestine doesn’t absorb
what is the role of the rectum in the digestive system
it receives stool from colon, alerts person stool needs to be evacuated, and holds stool until evacuation happens
what order are the organs in the digestive tract
mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, then rectum
what is an accessory organ
an organ that is not part of the path of food but plays a critical role in digestion
what are some accessory organs of the digestive system and their role
teeth - cuts and grinds food
tongue - pushes food toward back of mouth
salivary glands - moistens food
liver - produces bile
gallbladder - stores bile
pancreas - secretes digestive enzymes into small intestine
what are some diseases of the digestive system
heartburn/acid reflux, celiac disease, crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids
what is heartburn/acid reflux
when stomach acid gets into the esophagus
