digestive

Mechanical digestion and propulsion

Crushing and shearing of food and propelling food along digestive tract.

Secretion

Release of water, acids, enzymes, buffers, and salts by epithelium of digestive tract, glandular organs, and gallbladder.

Absorption

Movement of organic molecules, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, and water across digestive epithelium and into interstitial fluid of digestive tract.

Peritoneum

Serous membrane lining peritoneal cavity.

Mesenteries

Double sheets of peritoneal membrane suspending portions of the digestive tract within the peritoneal cavity, connecting parietal peritoneum with visceral peritoneum, providing a route for blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels, stabilizing organ positions, and preventing entanglement.

Mucosa

Inner lining of the digestive tract, consisting of a moistened epithelium, muscular muscularis mucosae, and submucosa.

Submucosa

Layer of dense irregular connective tissue binding mucosa to the muscular layer, containing blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.

Muscular layer

Dominated by smooth muscle cells, with inner circular and outer longitudinal layers involved in mechanical digestion and moving materials along the digestive tract.

Serosa

The protective visceral peritoneum covering the muscular layer.

Oral mucosa

Lining of the oral cavity.

Uvula

Prevents food from entering the pharynx too soon.

Dentin

Matrix similar to bone forming the bulk of the tooth.

Pulp cavity

Interior of the tooth containing vessels and nerves.

Deciduous teeth

Baby teeth erupting at 6-24 months.

Adult teeth

Permanent teeth formed by age 21.

Saliva

Produced by salivary glands, containing enzymes like salivary amylase for carbohydrate digestion.

Mastication

Chewing.

Bolus

Round ball of food that is easy to swallow.

Deglutition

Swallowing process.

Chyme

Partially digested food mixed with stomach acid secretions.

Fundus of stomach

Contracts diaphragm, located superior to the junction of stomach and esophagus.

Body of stomach

Largest region for mixing ingested food.

Rugae

Folds in mucosa of stomach that expand gastric lumen.

Gastric pits

Depressions that open onto the gastric surface.

Gastric glands

Secrete 1500 ml of juice a day.

Parietal cells

Secrete intrinsic factor.

Chief cells

Secrete pepsinogen.

Pepsinogen

Becomes pepsin due to HCL.

Newborn stomach enzymes

Produce renin and gastric lipase for milk digestion.

G cells

Produce gastrin stimulating secretion and contractions.

Pancreatic duct

Delivers pancreas secretions to duodenum.

Pancreatic acini

Secrete pancreatic juice into small intestine.

Pancreatic alpha amylase

Breaks down starches.

Pancreatic lipase

Breaks down complex lipids.

Nuclease

Breaks down DNA or RNA.

Proteolytic enzymes

Break apart proteins (proteases and peptidases).

Proteases

Break large protein complexes.

Peptidases

Break peptide chains into amino acids.