M3A Anatomy and Physiology Vocab Flashcards
absorption
passage of materials through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream
amino acids
small building blocks of proteins, released when proteins are digested
amylase
enzyme secreted by the pancreas and salivary glands to digest starch
anus
terminal end or opening of the digestive tract to the outside of the body
appendix
blind pouch hanging from the cecum
bile
digestive juice made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder
breaks up large fat globules
bilirubin
pigment released by the liver in bile
bowel
intestine
canine teeth
pointed, dog-like teeth
cecum
first part of the large intestine
colon
portion of the large intestine consisting of the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid segments
common bile duct
carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum
defecation
elimination of feces from the digestive tract through the anus
deglutition
swallowing
dentin
primary material found in teeth
digestion
breakdown of complex foods to simpler forms
duodenum
first part of the small intestine
elimination
removal of materials from the body
removal of indigestible materials as feces
emulsification
breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules
enamel
hard, outermost layer of a tooth
enzyme
chemical that speeds up a reaction between substances
esophagus
tube connecting the throat to the stomach
fatty acids
substances produced when fats are digested
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 in the stomach; aids digestion
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
helps transport sugar into body cells
jejunum
second part of the small intestine
lipase
pancreatic enzyme necessary to digest fats
liver
large organ located in the RUQ of the abdomen
secretes bile; stores sugar, iron, and vitamins; produces blood proteins; destroys worn-out red blood cells; and filters out toxins.
lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
ring of muscles between the esophagus and stomach
mastication
chewing
molar teeth
three large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth on either side of the dental arch
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 behind the stomach; produces insulin and enzymes
papillae
small projections on the tongue
parotid gland
salivary gland within the cheek, just anterior to the ear
peristalsis
rhythmic contractions of the tubular organs
pharynx
throat
portal vein
large vein bringing blood to the liver from the intestines
protease
enzyme that digests protein
pulp
soft tissue within a tooth, containing nerve and blood vessels
pyloric sphincter
ring of muscle near the end of the stomach, near the duodenum
pylorus
distal region of the stomach, opening to the duodenum
rectum
large section of the large intestine, connecting the end of the colon and the anus
rugae
ridges on the hard palate and wall of the stomach
saliva
digestive juice produced by salivary glands
salivary glands
parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands
sigmoid colon
lower, S-shaped segment of the colon, just before the rectum
sphincter
circular ring of muscle that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening
stomach
muscular organ that receives food from the esophagus
the stomach’s parts are the fundus (proximal section), body (middle section), and antrum (distal section)
triglycerides
fat molecules composed of three parts fatty acids and one part glycerol
uvula
soft tissue hanging from the middle of the soft palate
villi (singular: villus)
microscopic projections in the wall of the small intestine that absorb nutrients into the bloodstream
