Digestive system Flashcards
digestion
digestion system breakdowns the food into a form that can be used by an animal. It includes both mechanical digestion and chemical digestion.
mechanical digestion
mechanical digestion is digestion that uses physical factors such as chewing with the teeth
chemical digestion
chemical digestion is the chemical reactions changing food into simpler substances that are absorbed into the bloodstream for use in other parts of the body
alimentary canal
alimentary canal is the passage from the mouth to the anus. Digestion of food occurs as it moves through the canal.
enzymes
enzymes are special chemicals that speed up reactions but are themselves not used up in the reaction
saliva
saliva is a watery substance in the mouth that moistens food before swallowing
salivary glands
salivary glands are glands in the mouth that produce saliva
bolus
bolus is a round, chewed-up ball of food made in the mouth that makes swallowing easier
oesophagus
oesophagus is part of the digestive system composed of a tube connecting the mouth with the stomach
peristalsis
peristalsis is the the process of pushing food along the oesophagus or small intestine by the action of muscles
stomach
stomach is a large muscular organ that churns and mixes food with gastric juice to start to break down protein
small intestine
absorption
absorption is the taking in of a substance, for example from the intestine to the surrounding capillaries
villi
villi is a tiny finger-like projections from the wall of the intestine that maximise the surface area of the structure to increase the efficiency of nutrient absorption. Singular = villus.
nutrient
nutrients is a substances that provide energy and chemicals that living things need to stay alive, grow and reproduce
gall bladder
gall bladder is a small organ that stores and concentrates bile within the body
bile
bile is a substance produced by the liver that helps digest fats and oils
lipids
lipids is a type of nutrients that include fats and oils
lipases
lipases are enzymes that break fats and oils down into fatty acids and glycerol
amylases
amylases is an enzyme in saliva that breaks starch down into sugar
proteases
proteases are enzymes that break proteins down into amino acids
pancreas
pancreas is a large gland in the body that produces and secretes the hormone insulin and an important digestive fluid containing enzymes
colon
colon is 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 intestine
large intestine is the penultimate part of the digestive system, where water is absorbed from the waste before it is transported out of the body
vitamin D
vitamin D is a nutrient that regulates the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the bloodstream and promotes the healthy growth and remodelling of bone
cellulose
cellulose is a natural substance that keeps the cell wall of plants rigid
rectum
rectum is the final section of the digestive system, where waste food matter is stored as faeces before being excreted through the anus
anus
anus is the final part of the digestive system, through which faeces are passed as waste
emulsify
emulsify combines two liquids that do not normally mix easily
denatured
denatured describes the condition of proteins after they have been overheated
substrate
substrate is substance acted upon by an enzyme
product
product is a new chemical substance that results from a chemical reaction
burping
burping is the release of swallowed gas through the mouth
heartburn
heartburn is a burning sensation caused by stomach acid rising into the oesophagus
flatulence
flatulence is the release of gas through the anus. This gas is produced by bacteria in the large intestine.
diarrhoea
diarrhoea is excessive discharge of watery faeces
vomiting
vomiting is the forceful ejection of matter from the stomach through the mouth
