The Digestive System and Fad Diets

Flashcards covering key concepts of the digestive system and related diets.

hCG Diet

A diet that involves injecting human chorionic gonadotropin hormone while following a 500-calorie diet, promoted for weight loss.

Homeopathic hCG

Products that claim to contain hCG but are often diluted to the point of containing no effective amount of the hormone.

Alimentary canal

The gastrointestinal tract that digests and absorbs food, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.

Accessory digestive organs

Organs like the teeth, tongue, gallbladder, salivary glands, liver, and pancreas that assist in digestion but are not part of the alimentary canal.

Ingestion

The process of taking food into the digestive tract.

Propulsion

The act of moving food through the digestive tract.

Mechanical digestion

The physical process of breaking food into smaller pieces.

Chemical digestion

The biochemical breakdown of complex molecules into smaller molecules.

Absorption

The movement of digested nutrients from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.

Defecation

The elimination of indigestible substances from the body.

Peristalsis

Wave-like muscular contractions that move materials along the digestive tract.

Gastric juice

Fluid produced in the stomach, composed mainly of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes.

Bile

An alkaline solution produced by the liver that aids in the emulsification and absorption of fats.

Pancreatic juice

A watery alkaline solution secreted by the pancreas that contains digestive enzymes for further breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Ketosis

A metabolic state where fat is used as the primary energy source instead of carbohydrates, common during low-carbohydrate diets.

Chylomicrons

Lipid transport particles that carry fats from the intestines to the lymphatic system.

Intravenous fat replacement therapy

A medical treatment utilizing fat emulsions for patients who cannot consume food traditionally.

Celiac disease

An autoimmune disorder where gluten ingestion leads to damage in the small intestine.