Digestive System Vocabulary

Front 1

absorption

Back 1

passage of materials through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream

Front 2

amino acids

Back 2

small building blocks of proteins (line links in a chain), released when proteins are digested

Front 3

amylase

Back 3

enzyme (-ase) secreted by the pancreas and salivary glands to digest starch (amyl/o)

Front 4

anus

Back 4

terminal end or opening of the digestive tract to the outside of the body

Front 5

appendix

Back 5

blind pouch hanging from the cecum (RLQ) it literally means handing (pend/o) onto (ap-) which is a form of ad-

Front 6

bile

Back 6

digestive juice made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Originally called gall (bilis meaning gall or anger) because of the bitter taste. Composed of pigments (colored material), cholesterol, bile salts.

Front 7

bilirubin

Back 7

pigment released by the liver in bile

Front 8

bowel

Back 8

intestine

Front 9

canine teeth

Back 9

pointed, dog like teeth (pertaining to dog) nect to the incisors, also called cuspids or eyeteeth

Front 10

cecum

Back 10

first part of the large intestine

Front 11

colon

Back 11

portion of the large intestine consisting of the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid segments

Front 12

common bile duct

Back 12

carried bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum; also called choledochus

Front 13

defecation

Back 13

eliminating of feces from the digestive tract through the anus

Front 14

deglutition

Back 14

swallowing

Front 15

dentin

Back 15

primary material found in teeth. Its covered by the enamel in the crown and protective layer of cementum in the root

Front 16

digestion

Back 16

breakdown of complex foods to simpler forms

Front 17

duodenum

Back 17

first part of small intestine. Duo=2, den=10; the duodenum measures 12 inches long

Front 18

elimination

Back 18

act of removal of materials from the body; in the digestive system, the act removal of indigestible materials as feces

Front 19

emulsification

Back 19

physical process of breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules, thereby increasing the surface area tthat enzymes can use to digest the fat

Front 20

enamel

Back 20

hard, outermost layer of the tooth

Front 21

enzyme

Back 21

chemical that speeds up a reaction between substances. Digestive enzymes break down complex foods to simpler substances. Given the name -ase

Front 22

esophagus

Back 22

tube connecting the throat to the stomach. Eso- inward; pha/o swallowing

Front 23

fatty acids

Back 23

substances produced when fats are digested. A category of lipids.

Front 24

feces

Back 24

solid waste; stool

Front 25

gallbladder

Back 25

small sac under liver; stores bile

Front 26

glucose

Back 26

simple sugar

Front 27

glycogen

Back 27

starch; glucose is stored in the form of glycogen in the liver cells

Front 28

hydrochloric acid

Back 28

substance produced in the stomach; necessary for digestion of food

Front 29

ileum

Back 29

third part of the small intestine; greak eilos meaning twisted; when viewed under autopsy the intestine appeared twisted and often the area of obstruction

Front 30

incisor

Back 30

any one of four front teeth in the dental arch

Front 31

insulin

Back 31

hormone produced by the endocrine cells of the pancreas. it transports sugar from the blood into cells and stimulates glycogen formation by the liver

Front 32

jejunum

Back 32

second part of the small intestine; jejunus means empty, this part of the intestine was always empty when the body is examined after death

Front 33

lipase

Back 33

pancreatic enzyme necessary to digest fats

Front 34

liver

Back 34

large organ located in the RUQ of the abdomen. Secrets bile stores sugar, iron, and vitamins; produces blood proteins; destroys worn-out red blood cells, and filters out toxins. Weighs two half to three pounds

Front 35

lower esophageal sphincter (LES)

Back 35

ring of muscles between the esophagus and the stomach. (cardiac sphincter)

Front 36

mastication

Back 36

chewing

Front 37

molar teeth

Back 37

sixth, seventh, and eighth teeth from the middle on either side of the dental arch.

Front 38

Premolar teeth

Back 38

the fourth and fifth teeth, before the molars

Front 39

palate

Back 39

roof of the mouth. The hard palate lies anterior to the soft palate and is supported by the upper jaw bone (maxilla).

Front 40

soft palate

Back 40

posterior fleshy part between mouth and the throat

Front 41

pacreas

Back 41

organ behind the stomach; produces insulin (for transport of sugar into cells) and enzymes (for digestion of foods)

Front 42

papilla(e)

Back 42

small projection on the tongue. A papilla (singular) is a nipple-like elevation

Front 43

parotid gland

Back 43

salivary gland within the cheek, just anterior to the ear. par- = near ot/o = ear

Front 44

peristalsis

Back 44

rhythmic contraction of the tubular organs. In the gastrointestinal tract, peristalsis moves the contents through at different rates; stomach 0.5 to 2 hours; small intestine 2-6 hours; and colon 6-72 hours. Peri-surrounding stalsis- constriction

Front 45

pharynx

Back 45

throat, the common passageway for food from the mouth and for air from the nose

Front 46

portal vein

Back 46

large vein bringing blood to the liver from the intestines

Front 47

protease

Back 47

enzyme that diges protein

Front 48

pulp

Back 48

soft tissue within a tooth, containing nerves and blood vessels

Front 49

pyloric sphincter

Back 49

ring of muscle at the end of the stomach, near the duodenum. Greek pyloros-gatekeeper; normally closed, but opens when a wave of peristalsis passes over it

Front 50

pylorus

Back 50

distal region of the stomach, opening to the duodenum

Front 51

rectum

Back 51

last section of the large intestine, connecting the end of the colon and the anus

Front 52

rugae

Back 52

ridges on the hard palate and the wall of the stomach

Front 53

saliva

Back 53

digestive juice produced by salivary glands. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which begins the digestion of starch to sugar

Front 54

salivary glands

Back 54

parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands

Front 55

sigmoid colon

Back 55

fourth and last, S shaped segment of the colon, just before the rectum; empties into the rectum

Front 56

sphincter

Back 56

circular ring of muscle that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening

Front 57

stomach

Back 57

muscular organ that receives food from the esophagus. Parts are the fundus (proximal section), body (middle section), and antrum (distal section)

Front 58

triglycerides

Back 58

fat molecules composed of three parts fatty acids and one part glycerol. Fats subgroup of lipids; another lipid is cholesterol

Front 59

uvula

Back 59

soft tissue hanging from the middle of the soft palate. uva-bunch of grapes in latin

Front 60

villi

singular villus

Back 60

microscopic projection in the wall of the small intestine that absorbs nutrients into the bloodstream