Gross Anatomy of the Oral Cavity, Esophagus, and Stomach

Flashcards for reviewing key terms and concepts related to the anatomy and histology of the oral cavity, esophagus, and stomach, including processes involved in digestion.

Oral vestibule

Space external to the teeth and gums bordered by the lips and cheeks.

Oral cavity proper

The part of the oral cavity bounded by the teeth and gums, hard and soft palates, and tonsils.

Labial frenula

Muscular structures that attach the lips to the gums, supporting lip movement.

Tongue

Muscular organ in the mouth responsible for sound articulation and digestion.

Hard palate

The bony anterior portion of the roof of the mouth, providing a surface for the tongue.

Soft palate

The flexible, muscular part at the back of the roof of the mouth, which closes off the nasal passages during swallowing.

Uvula

The conic projection hanging from the soft palate, involved in swallowing and saliva production.

Peristalsis

Waves of muscle contraction that move food through the digestive tract.

Upper esophageal sphincter

Muscle fibers surrounding the junction between the pharynx and esophagus, controlling food entry.

Lower esophagueal sphincter

Muscle fibers surrounding the junction between the esophagus and stomach, preventing acid reflux.

Celiac trunk

An artery that supplies blood to the foregut, branching into the left gastric, common hepatic, and splenic arteries.

Stomach anatomy

Divided into the cardiac part, fundus, gastric body, and pyloric part, essential for digestion.

Rugae

Folds in the stomach lining that allow expansion and increase surface area.

Chyme

The semi-fluid mass of partly digested food expelled from the stomach into the duodenum.

Esophageal veins

Veins that drain deoxygenated blood from the esophagus into systemic circulation.

Mucosa

Innermost layer of the gastrointestinal tract lining, in contact with the lumen, and involved in absorption.

Tunica muscularis

Muscle layer responsible for the peristaltic movements of the GI tract.

Histology

The study of the microscopic structure of tissues.

Dipeptidase

Enzyme that breaks down dipeptides into individual amino acids.

Micelles

Structures formed from monoglycerides and fatty acids that facilitate the absorption of fats.