Digestive system Flashcards
digestion
mental health issues such as increased risk of suicide
substance abuse — you may become dependent or addicted to alcohol, especially if you have depression or anxiety
increased risk of diabetes and weight gain
impotence and other problems with sexual performance
cancers such as stomach cancer, bowel cancer, breast cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer, oesophageal cancer and liver cancer
alimentary canal
passage from the mouth to the anus. Digestion of food occurs as it moves through the canal.
bolus
round, chewed-up ball of food made in the mouth that makes swallowing easier
oesophagus
part of the digestive system composed of a tube connecting the mouth with the stomach
peristalsis
part of the digestive system composed of a tube connecting the mouth with the stomach
stomach
a large muscular organ that churns and mixes food with gastric juice to start to break down protein
small intestines
the part of the digestive system between the stomach and large intestine, where much of the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients takes place
absoption
the taking in of a substance, for example from the intestine to the surrounding capillaries
villi
tiny finger-like projections from the wall of the intestine that maximize the surface area of the structure to increase the efficiency of nutrient absorption. Singular = villus.
nutrient
substances that provide energy and chemicals that living things need to stay alive, grow and reproduce
bile
a substance produced by the liver that helps digest fats and oils
gall bladder
a small organ that stores and concentrates bile within the body
lipids
type of nutrients that include fats and oils
lipases
enzymes that break fats and oils down into fatty acids and glycerol
amylases
an enzyme in saliva that breaks starch down into sugar
proteases
enzymes that break proteins down into amino acids
pancreas
a large gland in the body that produces and secretes the hormone insulin and an important digestive fluid containing enzymes
colon
the part of the large intestine where a food mass passes from the small intestine, and where water and other remaining essential nutrients are absorbed into the body
large intestines
the penultimate part of the digestive system, where water is absorbed from the waste before it is transported out of the body
Vitamin D
a nutrient that regulates the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the bloodstream and promotes the healthy growth and remodelling of bone
cellulose
a natural substance that keeps the cell wall of plants rigid
rectum
the final section of the digestive system, where waste food matter is stored as faeces before being excreted through the anus
anus
the final part of the digestive system, through which faeces are passed as waste
emulsify
combine two liquids that do not normally mix easily
denatured
describes the condition of proteins after they have been overheated
