Medical Terminology

Chapter 5-6: Digestive System

absorption

Passage of materials through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream.

amino acids

Small building blocks of proteins, released when proteins are digested.

amylase

Enzyme (-ase) secreted by the pancreas and salivary glands to digest starch (amyl/o).

anus

Terminal end or opening of the digestive tract to the outside of the body.

appendix

Blind pouch hanging from the cecum (in the right lower quadrant [RLQ]). It literally means hanging (pend/o) onto (ap-, which is a form of ad-).

bile

Digestive juice made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It breaks up (emulsifies) large fat globules.

bilirubin

Pigment released by the liver in bile.

bowel

intestine

canine teeth

Pointed, dog-like teeth (canine means pertaining to dog) next to the incisors. Also called cuspids or eyeteeth.

cecum

First part of the large intestine.

colon

Portion of the large intestine consisting of the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid segments.

common bile duct

Carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum.

defication

Elimination of feces from the digestive tract through the anus.

deglutition

swallowing

dentin

Primary material found in teeth. It is covered by the enamel in the crown and a protective layer of cementum in the root.

digestion

Breakdown of complex foods to simpler forms.

duodenum

First part of the small intestine. Duo = 2, den = 10; the duodenum measures 12 inches long.

elimination

Removal of materials from the body; in the digestive system, the removal of indigestible materials as feces.

emulsification

Breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules. This increases the surface area that enzymes can use to digest the fat.

enamel

Hard, outermost layer of a tooth.

enzyme

Chemical that speeds up a reaction between substances. Digestive enzymes break down complex foods to simpler substances. Enzymes are given names that end in -ase.

esophagus

Tube connecting the throat to the stomach. Eso- means inward; phag/o means swallowing.

fatty acids

Substances produced when fats are digested.

feces

Solid wastes; stool.

gallbladder

Small sac under the liver; stores bile.

glucose

simple sugar

glycogen

Starch; glucose is stored in the form of glycogen in liver cells.

hydrochloric acid

Substance (strong acid) produced in the stomach; aids digestion.

ileum

Third part of the small intestine from the Greek eilos, meaning twisted. When the abdomen was viewed at autopsy, the intestine appeared twisted, and the ileum often was an area of obstruction.

incisor

Any one of four front teeth in the dental arch.

insulin

Hormone produced by the endocrine cells of the pancreas. It helps transport sugar into body cells.

jejunum

Second part of the small intestine. The Latin jejunus means empty; this part of the intestine was always empty when a body was examined after death.

lipase

Pancreatic enzyme necessary to digest fats.

liver

Large organ located in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) of the abdomen. The liver secretes bile; stores sugar, iron, and vitamins; produces blood proteins; destroys worn-out red blood cells; and filters out toxins. The normal adult liver weighs about 2½ to 3 pounds.

lower esophageal sphincter (LES)

Ring of muscles between the esophagus and the stomach. Also called cardiac sphincter.

mastication

chewing

molar teeth

Three large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth, on either side of the dental arch. Premolar teeth are two teeth, before the molars.

palate

Roof of the mouth. The hard palate lies anterior to the soft palate and is supported by the upper jawbone (maxilla). The soft palate is the posterior, fleshy part between the mouth and the throat.

pancreas

Organ behind the stomach; produces insulin (for transport of sugar into cells) and enzymes (for digestion of foods).

papillae

Small projections on the tongue. Taste buds (taste receptor cells) are located within the papillae (pap-IL-e).

parotoid gland

Salivary gland within the cheek, just anterior to the ear. Note the literal meaning of parotid (par- = near; ot/o = ear).

peristalsis

Rhythmic contractions of the tubular organs. In the gastrointestinal tract, peristalsis moves the contents through at different rates: stomach, 0.5 to 2 hours; small intestine, 2 to 6 hours; and colon, 6 to 72 hours. Peri- means surrounding; -stalsis is constriction.

pharynx

Throat, the common passageway for food from the mouth and for air from the nose.

portal vein

Large vein bringing blood to the liver from the intestines.

protease

Enzyme that digests protein.

pulp

Soft tissue within a tooth, containing nerves and blood vessels.

pyloric sphincter

Ring of muscle at the end of the stomach, near the duodenum. From the Greek pyloros, meaning gatekeeper. It is normally closed, but opens when a wave of peristalsis passes over it.

pylorus

Distal region of the stomach, opening to the duodenum.

rectum

Last section of the large intestine, connecting the end of the colon and the anus.

rugae (RU-guy)

Ridges on the hard palate and the wall of the stomach.

saliva

Digestive juice produced by salivary glands. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which begins the digestion of starch to sugar.

salivary glands

Parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands.

sigmoid colon

Lower, S-shaped segment of the colon, just before the rectum; empties into the rectum.

sphincter

Circular ring of muscle that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening.

stomach

Muscular organ that receives food from the esophagus. The parts of the stomach are the fundus (proximal section), body (middle section), and antrum (distal section).

triglycerides

Fat molecules composed of three parts fatty acids and one part glycerol. Triglycerides (fats) are a subgroup of lipids. Another type of lipid is cholesterol.

uvula

Soft tissue hanging from the middle of the soft palate. The Latin uva means bunch of grapes.

villi (singular: villus)

Microscopic projections in the wall of the small intestine that absorb nutrients into the bloodstream.

an/o

anus

append/o

appendix

appendic/o

appendix

bucc/o

cheek

cec/o

cecum

celi/o

belly, abdomen

cheli/o

lip

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

choledoch/o

common bile duct

col/o

colon

colon’o

colon

dent/i

tooth

duoden/o

duodenum

enter/o

intestines, usually small intestine

esophag/o

esophagus

faci/o

face

gastr/o

stomach

gingiv/o

gums

gloss/o

tongue

hepat/o

liver

ile/o

ileum

jejun/o

jejunum

labi/o

lip

lapar/o

abdomen

lingu/o

tongue

mandibul/o

lower jaw, mandible

odont/o

tooth

or/o

mouth

palat/o

palate

pancreat/o

pancreas

peritone/o

peritoneum

pharyng/o

throat

proct/o

anus and rectum

pylor/o

pyloric sphincter

rect/o

rectum

sialaden/o

salivary gland

sigmoid/o

sigmoid colon

stomat/o

mouth

uvul/o

uvula

amyl/o

starch

bil/i

gall, bile

bilirubin/o

bilirubin (bile pigment)