Human Digestive System and Absorption

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes regarding the human digestive system, including the parts of the small intestine, nutrient absorption, and digestive secretions.

Lacteal

A lymph vessel found inside a villus that carries glycerol and fatty acids to the main lymph vessels.

Hepatic portal vein

The vein formed by joining capillaries of villi that carries amino acids and sugars to the liver.

Hepatic vein

The vein that carries nutrients from the liver to the heart.

Appendix

A small finger-like structure located at the blind end of the caecum.

Carotene

A natural organic pigment found in fruits and vegetables like carrots and mangoes that is essential for vision, growth, and immunity.

Villi

Finger-like projections on the inner walls of the small intestine that provide a large surface area for the absorption of food.

Small Intestine

A highly coiled tube nearly $7\,m$ long where the complete digestion and absorption of food occurs.

Duodenum

The first part of the small intestine, which is about $25\,cm$ long.

Jejunum

The middle part of the small intestine, which is about $2.5\,m$ long.

Ileum

The last part of the small intestine, which is about $4\,m$ long.

Bile

A secretion of the liver entering the duodenum through the common bile duct that contains salts for breaking down large fats.

Emulsification

The process where bile salts break large fats into small droplets to form a milky fluid.

Pancreatic juice

A secretion from the pancreas containing enzymes and sodium bicarbonate that enters the duodenum through the pancreatic duct.

Trypsin

An enzyme in pancreatic juice responsible for the digestion of proteins.

Pancreatic amylase

An enzyme in pancreatic juice responsible for the digestion of carbohydrates.

Lipase

An enzyme in pancreatic juice responsible for the digestion of lipids.

Sodium bicarbonate

A component of pancreatic juice that neutralizes the acidity of chyme.