Digestive System Flashcards
Ingestion
taking in food, Occurs through your mouth, starts PD and CD
Digestion
the process by which the body breaks down food into smaller, absorbable pieces
Absorption
making nutrients in food available to your circulatory system, takes place in the small intestines
Egestion
getting rid of indigestible food, in the large intestines
Chemical Digestion
breaking down large complex molecules into smaller, simpler molecules through enzymatic reactions
Physical Digestion
physically breaking down food into smaller pieces through chewing, grinding, crushing and churning of food.
digestive tract
Includes the mouth, the pharynx, the esophagus, the stomach, sphincters, the small intestine and the large intestine
Accessory organs
salivary glands, liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
Oral Cavity
The Mouth
PD in the Mouth
teeth masticate(chew) the food
Mastication
chewing; makes the process of CD faster
Enzymes found in the Mouth
Amylase(breaks down starches), Lipase (breaks down lipids)
Saliva
secreted by salivary glands in the oral cavity, softens food
Bolus
a small rounded mass of a substance, especially of chewed food at the moment of swallowing.
epiglottis
flap-like structure located at the base of the tongue in the human throat, a flexible cartilage that closes the trachea when swallowing.
Pharynx
The “crossroad” between mouth, nose, trachea and esophagus.
esophagus
25 cm long muscular tube which transports food and liquids from the pharynx to the stomach
Peristalsis
involuntary waves of smooth muscular contractions which pushes food down the esophagus
Stomach
A sac where most of our digestion (break down of food) occurs. Does PD and CD
PD in the Stomach
three layers of muscle arranged in longitudinal, circular, and oblique (diagonal) rows. These muscles allow the stomach to squeeze and churn the food