Medical Terms

Absorption

Materials pass thru walls of S.I. into bloodstream

Amino Acids

Protein building blocks, released when proteins are digested

Amylase

Enzyme secreted by pancreas & salivary glands to digest starch

Anus

Terminal end/opening of digestive tract to outside the body

Appendix

Pouch that hangs from the cecum (in RLQ)

Bile

Digestive juice made from liver & stored in gallbladder; emulsifies large fat globules

• made of bile pigments, cholesterol, and bile salts

Bilirubin

Pigment released by liver in bile

Bowel

Intestine

Canine Teeth

Pointed, dog-like teeth next to incisors

• aka cuspids or eyeteeth

Cecum

First part of L.I.

Colon

Part of L.I. made up of ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid segments

Common Bile Duct

Carries bile from liver to gallbladder to duodenum

Defecation

Elims poop from digestive tract thru anus

Deglutition

Swallowing

Dentin

1* mat found in teeth; covered by enamel in crown & protective layer of cementum in root

Digestion

Breakdown of complex foods to simpler

Duodenum

First part of S.I.; 12in long

Elimination

Remove mats from the body

Emulsification

Break up large fat globules into smaller globules; (+) SA that enzymes can digest

Enzyme

Chem that speeds up reaction; breaks down complex foods to simpler substances

Esophagus

Tube that connects the throat to stomach

Fatty Acids

Substance that’s made when fats are digested

Feces

Solid wastes; stool; poop

Gallbladder

Small sac under liver; stores bile

Glucose

Simple sugar

Glycogen

Starch; glucose stored as glycogen in liver cells

Hydrochloric Acid

Substance made in the stomach; helps digestion

Ileum

Third part of S.I. (twisted)

Incisor

Any of 4 front teeth in dental arch

Insulin

Hormone made by endocrine cells of the pancreas; helps transport sugar into body cells

Jejunum

Second part of S.I.; always empty when examined in death

Lipase

Pancreatic enzyme needed to digest fats

Liver

• Organ located in RUQ of ab

• Secretes bile

• Stores sugar, iron, & vitamins

• Makes blood proteins

• Destroys worn-out RBC

• Filters toxins

• Weighs ~2.5-3lb

Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES)

Ring of muscles between esophagus & stomach

• aka cardiac sphincter

Mastication

Chewing

Molar Teeth

3 large flat teeth @ back of mouth, on either side of dental arch

Premolar Teeth

2 teeth before the molars

Palate

Roof of mouth

• Hard palate - anterior to soft palate; supported by upper jawbone (maxilla)

• Soft palate - posterior to fleshy part between mouth & throat

Pancreas

Organ behind stomach; makes insulin & enzymes

Papillae

Small bumps on tongue that has taste buds w/i it

Parotid Gland

Salivary gland w/i cheek, anterior to ear

Peristalsis

Rhythmic contract of tubular organs; moves stuff through the digestive sys

Pharynx

Throat; passage for food from mouth & air from nose

Portal Vein

L vein that brings blood to liver from intestines

Protease

Enzyme that digests protein

Pulp

Soft tissue w/i tooth; has nerves & blood vessels

Pyloric Sphincter

Ring of muscle @ end of stomach near duodenum; opens when wave of peristalsis passes

Pylorus

Distal region of stomach; opens to duodenum

Rectum

Last section of L.I.; connects to end of colon & anus

Rugae

Ridges on hard palate & wall of stomach

Saliva

Digestive juice made by salivary glands; has amylase which digest starch to sugar

Salivary Glands

Parotid, sublingual, submandibular glands

Sigmoid Colon

Lower S-shaped segment of colon before rectum; empty into rectum

Sphincter

Ring of muscle that constricts passage/close nat opening

Stomach

Muscular organ that gets food from esophagus

• Parts:

  • Fundus (proximal)

  • Body (mid)

  • Antrum (distal)

Triglycerides

Fat molecules made of 3 FA:1Glycerol; subgroup of lipids

Uvula

Soft tissue hanging from mid of soft palate

Villi / Villus

Microscopic projections in wall of S.I.; absorbs nutrients into bloodstream

Pyorrhea

Discharge of pus from gums

Pyuria

presence of pus in pee (sign of UTI)

Glycogenolysis

Convert glycogen → glucose

Gluconeogenesis

Convert proteins & fats → glucose (only if body needs sugar)