digestive system Flashcards
list the 5 activities of digestion
ingestion, peristalsis, digestion, absorption, defecation
the entire digestive tract is ..
30 feet long
list the organs of the gastrointestinal tract
mouth (oral cavity), pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine
the esophagus is ..
a collapsible, muscular tube that is situated behind the trachea
the esophageal hiatus is ..
a place where the esophagus pierces the diaphragm
the esophageal sphincter is ..
a narrowing of the esophagus that opens and closes to allow a food bolus to enter the stomach
list the 4 parts of the stomach
cardia, fundus, body, pylorus (antrum)
large folds in the stomach
rugae
the pancreas is ..
a soft, oblong gland about 6 inches long & 1 inch thick
it is found beneath the greater curvature of the stomach & is connected by a duct to the duodenum of the small intestine
the gallbladder is ..
a pear-shaped about 3-4 inches long located in a depression of the surface of the liver
it’s lining has rugae that allow it to expand and fill w/ stored bile
the small intestine is approximately ..
21 feet in length
the small intestine is made up of 3 distinct parts
duodenum, jejunum, ileum
the ileocecal valve is ..
where the ileum joins the large intestine
the terms used to describe the digested, viscous, semi-fluid contents of the intestine
chyme
another word for large intestine
large bowel
4 regions of the large intestine
ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, rectum
taking food into the body
ingestion
the physical movement or pushing of food along the digestive tract
peristalsis
the breakdown of food by both mechanical and chemical mechanisms
digestion
the passage of digested food from the digestive tract into the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems for distribution to the body’s cells
absorption
the elimination from the body those substances that are indigestible and cannot be absorbed
defecation
a long continuous tube that runs through the body & extends from the mouth to the anus
gastrointestinal tract
caused by a widening of the esophageal hiatus
this results in a portion of the stomach protruding upward through the diaphragm
hiatal hernia
occurs when the hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes erode the layers of the stomach or duodenum
ulcer
a bacterium that is associated w/ the development of stomach ulcers
helicobactor pylori
initiates the breakdown of complex carbohydrates like starch & glycogen into simple sugars
salivary amylase
a soft mass of chewed food
food bolus
cancer of the large intestine & rectum
it is the 2nd most prevalent cancer in the U.S.
symptoms: blood in the feces, abdominal pain, and a change in consistency & frequency of bowel movements
colorectal cancer
inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection
infected individuals experience: nausea, fever, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and a yellowing of the skin & sclera of the eyes called jaundice
hepatitis
inflammation of the vermiform appendix caused by an obstruction
appendicitis
the presence of pouch-like herniations throughout the muscular layer of the colon
a major symptom: bleeding from the rectum
diverticulosis
a chronic, inflammatory bowel disease of unknown origin
symptoms: frequent bouts of diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea, weakness, anorexia, and weight loss
crohn’s disease
affects about 20% of the population over 40 years of age & is more prevalent in women than in men
this condition can be caused by high cholesterol
gallstones
are caused by the inflammation & enlargement of rectal veins
hemorrhoids
a long term degenerative disease of the liver in which the lobes are covered w/ fibrous connective tissue
cirrhosis
