Anatomy Unit 8 Vocabulary

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

The amount of energy required to sustain a person’s metabolism for one day if he or she is at complete rest

Macronutrients

Substances such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids that the body requires in relatively large quantities

Micronutrients

Vitamins and minerals that are essential to the body in small amounts

Absorption

The movement of food molecules from the small intestine into the blood

Bile

A watery substance produced by the liver that contains bile salts, which help emulsify fats

Chemical Breakdown

The breakdown of large food molecules into smaller molecules by enzymes; historically referred to as digestion

Chyme

The mixture of food and digestive juice in the stomach and duodenum

Defecation

The discharge of feces from the anus

Emulsification

The breakdown of large fat particles into much smaller particles, aided by bile

Ingestion

The intake of food and liquids via the mouth

Mechanical Breakdown

The breakdown of food into smaller pieces, thus increasing its surface area

Peristalsis

A wave of symmetrical squeezing of the digestive tract walls that occurs during digestion to move food along the GI tract

Constipation

Condition characterized by difficulty in defecating

Crohn’s Disease

A chronic inflammatory bowel disease that usually affects the small intestine or colon

Diarrhea

The occurrence of frequent, watery bowel movements

Diverticulitis

Development of inflammation in the diverticula

Gastroesophageal Reflux

The movement of chyme from the stomach into the lower esophagus

Hepatitis

A group of diseases characterized by inflammation of and damage to the liver

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A condition in which the wall of the small and/or large intestine becomes chronically inflamed

Peptic Ulcer

A break in the lining of the stomach, duodenum, or lower esophagus

Ulcerative Colitis

An inflammatory bowel disease that usually affects the colon and the mucosal layer of the intestinal wall