Digestive System Anatomy

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering upper and lower digestive tracts, stomach anatomy, ruminant compartments, intestinal regions, and peritoneal structures.

Upper Digestive Tract

The division of the digestive tract that includes the pharynx, esophagus, and stomach.

Lower Digestive Tract

The division of the digestive tract consisting of the small intestines, large intestines, and rectum.

Pharynx

The shared muscular passageway connecting the oral and nasal cavities to the esophagus and larynx, divided into the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

Nasopharynx

The respiratory division of the pharynx located dorsal to the soft palate.

Oropharynx

The digestive section of the pharynx located between the soft palate and the epiglottis, communicating directly with the oral cavity.

Laryngopharynx

The caudal part of the pharynx where the digestive and respiratory tracts divide, opening into the larynx (respiratory) and esophagus (digestive).

Esophagus

A muscular tube of the upper digestive tract positioned dorsal to the trachea that transports food boluses from the pharynx to the stomach.

Cardia

The first anatomical section of the stomach surrounding the entrance of the esophagus, guarded by the cardiac sphincter.

Cardiac Sphincter

The muscular sphincter located at the junction of the esophagus and the cardia of the stomach.

Fundus

The cranial, dome-shaped portion of the stomach located to the left of the cardia.

Corpus (Body)

The large central reservoir region of the stomach located between the fundus and the pylorus.

Pylorus

The distal exit region of the stomach connecting the corpus to the duodenum, comprising the antrum, canal, and sphincter.

Pyloric Antrum

The initial, wide portion of the pyloric region that faces the corpus of the stomach.

Pyloric Canal

The narrow, tubular exit passage of the pyloric region facing the duodenum.

Pyloric Sphincter

The circular smooth muscle sphincter surrounding the terminal end of the pyloric canal that controls emptying into the duodenum.

Rumen

The largest compartment of the ruminant forestomach, characterized by ruminal pillars and internal papillae on its mucosa.

Reticulum

The cranial compartment of the ruminant forestomach characterized by a honeycomb-textured mucosa.

Omasum

The third compartment of the ruminant stomach, distinguished by internal mucosal folds resembling 'pages of a book'.

Abomasum

The true glandular stomach compartment of ruminants, characterized by a smooth mucosa that may contain rugae.

Duodenum

The first and most cranial section of the small intestine, originating at the pylorus and running down the right side of the abdomen.

Jejunum

The middle and longest section of the small intestine, forming numerous loops occupying the majority of the ventral abdominal cavity.

Ileum

The short terminal section of the small intestine that lies dorsal to the jejunum and empties into the large intestine at the ileocolic junction.

Peyer's Patches

Aggregated lymphoid tissues distributed throughout all sections of the small intestines, found in their highest concentration within the ileum.

Rugae

Internal mucosal folds of the stomach that allow the organ to expand and stretch when full.

Plicae

Permanent circular mucosal folds lining the small intestines that increase internal absorptive surface area.

Cecum

A blind-ended pouch located at the junction of the ileum and colon, substantially enlarged in herbivores such as horses and rabbits.

Ascending Colon

The first segment of the large intestine that originates from the cecum and travels cranially.

Transverse Colon

The segment of the large intestine that runs across the transverse plane from right to left, lying dorsal to the small intestines in carnivores.

Descending Colon

The longest segment of the large intestine, extending caudally along the left side of the abdomen toward the rectum.

Rectum

The short, straight terminal section of the large intestine that terminates at the anal sphincter.

Peritoneum

The continuous serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity and enveloping abdominal viscera.

Visceral Peritoneum

The inner layer of the peritoneum that directly wraps and adheres to the abdominal organs, such as the liver, spleen, and intestines.

Parietal Peritoneum

The outer serous membrane layer of the peritoneum that lines the inner surface of the abdominal wall.

Peritoneal Cavity

The potential space between the visceral and parietal layers of the peritoneum.

Mesentery

A double layer of visceral peritoneum that suspends and attaches the small and large intestines to the dorsal peritoneal wall.

Greater Omentum

An extensive fold of peritoneum extending from the greater curvature of the stomach, duodenum, and spleen, draping over the intestines.

Lesser Omentum

A peritoneal fold extending from the lesser curvature of the stomach and duodenum to the caudal surface of the liver and gallbladder.