Digestive System Review

Flashcards for review of the digestive system lecture notes.

Human Digestive System

The gastrointestinal tract plus the accessory organs of digestion.

Digestion

Food is broken down mechanically and chemically as it travels through the digestive system.

Absorption

Digested food passes through the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and into the bloodstream.

Elimination

Solid wastes are compacted and eliminated from the body.

Upper GI tract

Mouth, esophagus, stomach.

Lower GI tract

Intestines, rectum, anus.

Accessory Organs

Liver, gallbladder, pancreas.

Mouth

First part of the digestive tract where food is broken down by saliva and teeth.

Esophagus

A muscular tube that connects the mouth and stomach.

Liver

Plays a role in digestion by producing bile (which aids fat digestion).

Stomach

Stores, mixes, and digests food.

Pancreas

Produces important enzymes for digestion.

Gallbladder

Stores bile produced by the liver.

Small Intestine

Where most of the absorption and digestion take place.

Large Intestine

The final passage for waste products, where water and electrolytes are absorbed.

Lips (labia; cheil/o; labi/o)

Opening to the digestive tract; aids in breathing and speaking.

Cheeks (bucc/o)

Form the walls of the oral cavity.

Palate (palat/o)

Forms the top of the oral cavity.

Uvula

Aids in sound production.

Tongue (gloss/o; lingu/o)

Moves food around the oral cavity and aids in speech.

Tonsils (tonsill/o)

Masses of lymphatic tissue that act as filters against microorganisms.

Teeth (dent/i; odont/o)

Grind and chew food.

Gums (gingiv/o)

Fleshy tissue that surrounds the sockets of the teeth.

Salivary Glands (sialaden/o)

Secrete saliva which moistens food and contains digestive enzymes.

Pharynx (pharyng/o)

Connects the nasal and oral cavities to the trachea and esophagus.

Epiglottis

Flap of tissue that covers the airway during swallowing.

Small Intestine (enter/o)

Finishes digestion and absorbs nutrients.

Duodenum (duoden/o)

Receives food from the stomach and digestive fluids from accessory organs.

Jejunum (jejun/o)

Secretes a large number of digestive enzymes and absorbs nutrients.

Ileum (ile/o)

Absorbs the remaining nutrients and ends in the ileocecal sphincter.

Large Intestine

Stores and prepares wastes for excretion.

Anus (An/o)

Lower opening of the digestive tract; where defecation occurs.

Liver (hepato/o)

Produces bile, detoxifies blood, and stores vitamins and minerals.

Gallbladder (cholecyst/o)

Storage location for excess bile produced by the liver.

Pancreas (Pancreat/o)

Has endocrine and exocrine functions, including secreting insulin and digestive enzymes.

Gastr/o

Stomach

Intestin/o

Intestine

Or/o; Stomat/o

Mouth

Cheil/o; Labi/o

Lips

Bucc/o

Cheeks

Palat/o

Palate

Gloss/o; Lingu/o

Tongue

Tonsill/o

Tonsil

Dent/i; Odont/o

Tooth

Gingiv/o

Gums

Endo-

Inside

Peri-

Surrounding

Sub-

Below; under

Ex-; exo-

Outside

-ase

Enzyme

-stalsis

Contraction

-logist; -ist

Specialist; one who studies