Digestive Physiology and Clinical Case Studies

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the physiology of the digestive system, including enzymatic functions, hormonal regulation, absorption mechanisms, and related clinical conditions based on the lecture notes.

Salivary Amylase

An enzyme in saliva that hydrolyzes living or cooked starch into maltose and maltotriose.

Esophageal-cardiac Sphincter

A muscular structure that prevents gastric reflux and relaxes just before a peristaltic wave passes through the esophagus.

Parietal Cells

Cells located in the stomach that produce $HCl$ and Intrinsic Factor.

Hydrochloric Acid ($HCl$)

A gastric secretion that activates pepsinogen, creates an optimal pH for pepsin, and hydrolyzes nucleoproteins.

Pepsin

An enzyme in gastric juice that hydrolyzes protein into proteose, peptone, and polypeptide.

Vagus Nerve ($X$)

A nerve that, when stimulated, increases the secretion of gastric juice, pancreatic juice, intestinal juice, and the excretion of bile.

Motilin

A hormone that increases the mechanical activity and motility of the intestines.

Trypsin

A pancreatic enzyme that degrades proteins and polypeptides into peptides and amino acids.

Chymotrypsin

A pancreatic enzyme that acts on polypeptides to produce peptides and amino acids.

Pancreatic Lipase

An enzyme that breaks down triglycerides into fatty acids and monoglycerides.

Micelles

Small particles required for lipid absorption in the small intestine, formed with the help of bile salts.

Intrinsic Factor

A substance secreted by the stomach (fundus area) necessary for the absorption of Vitamin $B_{12}$ in the ileum.

Secretin

A hormone that stimulates the pancreas to secrete a large volume of alkaline fluid rich in bicarbonate and inhibits gastric acid secretion.

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

A hormone stimulated by lipids and proteins in the duodenum that triggers pancreatic enzyme secretion and gallbladder contraction.

Secondary Active Transport

The mechanism by which Glucose and Galactose are absorbed at the brush border of the small intestine along with $Na^+$ ions.

Facilitated Diffusion

The carrier-mediated mechanism used for the absorption of Fructose in the small intestine.

Chylomicrons

Lipid droplets formed within small intestine cells that are subsequently transported into the lymphatic vessels.

Gastrin

A hormone secreted by the antrum of the stomach that stimulates gastric juice secretion; its secretion is increased by stomach distension.

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

A condition characterized by very high serum gastrin levels, leading to severe peptic ulcers.

Omeprazole

A medication that treats gastric ulcers by inhibiting the $H^+-K^+-ATPase$ pump in parietal cells.

Cimetidine

A drug that inhibits gastric acid secretion by blocking $H_2$ receptors on parietal cells.

Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide (GIP)

A hormone that stimulates the release of insulin, explaining why oral glucose is cleared from the blood faster than intravenous glucose.

Megaloblastic Anemia

A condition that can occur after a total gastrectomy due to the loss of Intrinsic Factor and subsequent Vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiency.

Bile Salts

Components of bile essential for the emulsification and absorption of lipids; their reabsorption leads to increased bile secretion.

Pancreatic Acini

Structures in the pancreas responsible for secreting a large volume of enzyme-rich alkaline fluid.