Digestion and Absorption Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to digestion and absorption processes in the GI tract.

GI Tract

The tube that food travels through, starting at the mouth and ending at the rectum and anus, where digestion and absorption occur.

Accessory Organs

Organs that aid in digestion by adding secretions into the GI tract; includes the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Mouth

The beginning of the GI tract where mechanical digestion (chewing) and the introduction of saliva occur.

Esophagus

A long tube that connects the mouth and the stomach, serving as a transport for food.

Small Intestine

The primary site of digestion and absorption, consisting of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

Large Intestine

Also known as the colon, it includes the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon, and is involved in water and electrolyte absorption.

Rectum and Anus

The end of the GI tract where waste is stored and eliminated.

Segmentation

Muscular contractions in the digestive tract that squish food components into smaller pieces, aiding in mechanical digestion.

Peristalsis

Wave-like contractions that help move food components in one direction towards the anus.

Lower Esophageal Sphincter

The sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus that prevents acidic contents from going up into the esophagus.

Pyloric Sphincter

The sphincter that controls the flow of contents from the stomach into the small intestine.

Ileocecal Valve

The valve between the ileum (end of the small intestine) and the large intestine, preventing microbes from moving into the small intestine.

Epiglottis

A flap that opens and closes to direct food and air into the esophagus and trachea.

Dysphagia

A condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing, often resulting from a stroke.

Aspiration

The movement of liquid or food particles into the trachea, which can be dangerous and lead to infection or pneumonia.

Duodenum

The first part of the small intestine where stomach contents mix with bile and pancreatic secretions.

Jejunum

The middle section of the small intestine, located between the duodenum and the ileum.

Ileum

The terminal section of the small intestine, connecting to the colon at the ileocecal valve.

Villi

Finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for absorption.

Enterocytes

The cells of the small intestine that have microvilli or a brush border on top.

Microvilli

Tiny projections on the surface of enterocytes that vastly increase the surface area of the small intestine for absorption.

Colonocytes

Cells of the colon that benefit from and feed off of excess materials left over after the fermentation processes happen by microbes.

Bile

A substance produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that emulsifies fat to aid in digestion.

Bicarbonate

A base released by the pancreas that neutralizes acidic contents coming from the stomach to protect the small intestine.

Gastroparesis

A condition characterized by delayed gastric emptying, often caused by nerve damage, such as from diabetes.