Terminology

Accessory Organs

Organs which aid in digestion.

Gastrin

A hormone that increases secretion in the stomach and intestines.

Parotid Gland

Largest salivary gland, secreting a clear, watery fluid rich in amylase.

Alimentary Canal

The passage from the mouth to anus through which food passes.

Pepsin

Enzyme that breaks down dietary proteins, activated from pepsinogen by hydrochloric acid.

Amylase

An enzyme that begins the process of turning complex sugars into simple sugars during digestion.

Hepatic Duct

Duct formed from converging lobules, transporting bile.

Pepsinogen

Inactive form of pepsin, activated by hydrochloric acid.

Anus

Opening at the end of the large intestine, through which feces exit.

Haustra

Pouches that give the colon its segmented appearance.

Ascending Colon

Part of the colon that absorbs water and nutrients, solidifying waste.

Peristalsis

Wavelike motion that propels food through the alimentary canal.

Bicarbonate ions

Substances that raise the pH in the stomach and small intestine.

Pharynx

Space between the mouth and esophagus; connects oral and nasal cavities.

Bile

Digestive fluid produced by the liver, aiding in fat digestion.

Ileocecal Sphincter

Valve between the ileum and the cecum.

Chyme

Mixture of food particles and gastric juices pushed into the small intestine.

Body of the Stomach

Main portion of the stomach where digestion occurs.

Pyloric Sphincter

Muscle that controls gastric emptying from the stomach.

Intrinsic Factor

A factor in gastric juice that aids in the absorption of vitamin B12.

Defecation

The elimination of indigestible solid waste.

Mastication

The process of chewing food.

Mechanical Digestion

Physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces.

Small Intestine

Where the main absorption of nutrients occurs.

Emulsification

The process of breaking down fats into smaller particles for digestion.

Esophagus

Tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach.

Tongue

Muscular organ that mixes food with saliva.

Liver

Largest internal organ, responsible for bile production and metabolic functions.

Gallbladder

Stores bile and releases it into the duodenum.

Gastric Juice

Digestive fluid combining hydrochloric acid and enzymes.

Parietal Cells

Cells in the stomach that secrete hydrochloric acid.

Cholecystokinin

Hormone that stimulates bile release and decreases gastric motility.

Trypsin

Proteolytic enzyme released by the pancreas, activating other digestive enzymes.

Vermiiform Appendix

Small tube attached to the cecum, containing lymphatic tissue.

Lactase

Enzyme that splits lactose into glucose and galactose.

Chemical Digestion

The use of enzymes to break down food into nutrients.

Plicae Circulares

Folds in the lining of the small intestine that increase surface area for absorption.

Villi

Tiny projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients.

Sublingual Gland

Smallest of the major salivary glands, located under the tongue.