Digestive System Flashcards
absorption
passage of materials through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream
amino acids
small building blocks of proteins (like links in a chain), released when proteins are digested
amylase
enzyme (-ase) secreted by the pancreas and salivary glands to digest starch (amyl/o)
anus
terminal end or opening of the digestive tract to the outside of the body
appendix
blind pouch hanging from the cecum (in the right lower quadrant). It literally means hanging (pend/o) onto (ap-, which is a form of ad-)
bile
digestive juice made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. it breaks up (emulsifies) large fat gobbles. Bile originally was called gall, probably because it has a bitter taste. It is composed of bile pigments (colored materials), cholesterol, and bile salts.
bilirubin
pigment released by the liver in bile
bowel
intestine
canine teeth
pointed, dog-like teeth (canine means pertaining to dog) next to the incisors. Also called cuspids or eyeteeth
cecum
first part of the large intestine
colon
portion of the large intestine consisting of the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid segments
common bile ducts
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. It is covered by the enamel in the crown and a protective layer of cementum in the root
digestion
breakdown of complex foods to simpler forms
duodenum
first part of the small intestine. Duo=2, den=10; the duodenum measures 12 inches long
elimination
act of removal of materials from the body; in the digestive system, the removal of indigestible materials as feces
emulsification
physical process of breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules , thereby increasing the surface area that enzymes can use to digest the fat.
enamel
hard, outermost layer of a tooth
enzyme
chemicals that speeds up a reaction between substances. Digestive enzymes break down complex foods to simpler substances. Enzymes are given names that end in -ase
esophagus
tube connecting the throat to the stomach. Eso- means inward; phag/o means swallowing
fatty acids
substances produced when fats are digested. Fatty acids are a category of lipid
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 by the stomach; necessary for digestion of food
ileum
third part of the small intestine
incisor
any one of four front teeth in the dental arch
insulin
hormone produced by the endocrine cells of the pancreas. It transports sugar from the blood into cells and stimulates glycogen formation by the liver
jejunum
second part of the small intestine
lipase
pancreatic enzyme necessary to digest fats
liver
large organ located in the RUQ of the abdomen. The liver secretes bile; stores sugar, iron and vitamins; produces blood proteins; destroys worn -out red blood cells; and filters out toxins. The normal adult liver weighs about 2 1/2 to 3 pounds
lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
ring of muscles between the esophagus and the stomach. Also called the cardiac sphincter
mastication
chewing
molar teeh
6,7, and 8th teeth from the middle on either side of the dental arch. Premolar teeth are the 4th and 5th teeth, before the molars
palate
roof of the mouth. The hard palate lies anterior to the soft palate and is supported by the upper jawbone (maxilla). The soft palate is the posterior fleshy part between the mouth and the throat
pancreas
organ under the stomach; produces insulin (for transport of sugar into cells) and enzymes (for digestion of foods)
papillae (sing. papilla)
small elevations on the tongue. A papilla is a nipple-like elevation
parotid gland
salivary gland within the cheek, just anterior to the ear.
