Unit 9 - Digestive System Key Terms

Question 1

oral cavity

Answer 1

the mouth

Question 2

pharynx

Answer 2

throat

Question 3

esophagus

Answer 3

10 inch long tube that carries food from the pharynx to the stomach, takes about 10 seconds for swallowed food to reach the stomach

Question 4

stomach

Answer 4

acts as a bag to collect and churn food

Question 5

small intestine

Answer 5

major site of digestion and absorption of nutrients from food, average of 20 feet long

Question 6

colon

Answer 6

large intestine, fluid that remains after the small intestine mostly gets reabsorbed into the body

Question 7

palate

Answer 7

roof of the oral cavity

Question 8

epiglottis

Answer 8

cartilaginous flap that folds down to cover the larynx and trachea so food is prevented from entering the respiratory tract.

Question 9

peristalsis

Answer 9

wavelike muscular contractions

Question 10

chyme

Answer 10

mixture of food and other digestive juices

Question 11

lower esophageal sphincter

Answer 11

keeps the food from flowing back into the esophagus

Question 12

pyloric sphincter

Answer 12

regulates the passage of food into the small intestine

Question 13

three sections of the small intestine in order

Answer 13

duodenum, jejunum, ileum

Question 14

cecum

Answer 14

pouch or saclike area in the first 2-3 inches at the beginning of the colon

Question 15

large intestine sections in order

Answer 15

ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon

Question 16

salivary glands

Answer 16

produces saliva which contains the digestive enzyme amylase that begins the digestion of carbohydrates

Question 17

liver

Answer 17

processes nutrients absorbed by the small intestine, detoxifies harmful substances, produces bile which helps break up fat. This is the only organ that can regenerate itself.

Question 18

gallbladder

Answer 18

bile produced by the liver is stored here

Question 19

pancreas

Answer 19

buffers neutralize the chyme that just left the stomach, pancreatic enzymes chemically digest fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

Question 20

feces

Answer 20

solid waste