the human digestive system Flashcards
digestive system
the group of organs that carries out digestion of food
liver
a large dark red organ that carries out many of the different functions including the production of bile
pancreas
a cream white organ lying close to the stomach which secretes pancreatic juice it also secretes the hormone insulin and glucagon
absorbed
soaked up; nutrients are absorbed from the alimentary canal into the blood through the walls of the small intestine
ingestion
the taking of food and drink into the body
digestion
the breakdown of food
physical digestion
the brea down of food into smaller pieces without any chemical changes to the molecules
chemical digestion
the breakdown of large molecules in food into smaller molecules so that they can be absorbed
absorption
the movement of nutrients from the alimentary canal into the blood
assimilation
the uptake and use of nutrients
egestion
the removal of undigested food from the body as faeces
anus
the exit from the alimentary canal, through which faeces are removed
sphincter muscles
rings of muscle that contract to the close a tube
lubricated
made smooth and slippery to reduce friction
mucus
a smooth viscous fluid secreted by many different organs in the body
goblet cells
cells found in the lining of the respiratory passages and digestive system
salivary glands
groups of cells close to the mouth, which secrete saliva into the salivary ducts
oesophagus
the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach
oesophagus
the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach
trachea
the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach
stomach
a wide part of the alimentary canal in which food can be stored for a while and where digestion of proteins begin
lumen
the space at the centre of the tube through which substances can move
duodenum
the first part of the small intestine into which the pancreatic duct and the bile duct empty fluids
small intestine
a long narrow part of the alimentary canal consisting of the duodenum and ileum
