NBCD Ch 1 - The Digestive System

Alimentary canal

Also called the gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract or gut

Alimentary canal

Is a continuous tube that extends from the mouth to the anus, through which food passes during digestion

Organs of alimentary canal

Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.

Accessory digestive organs

Teeth, tongue, gallbladder, and a number of large digestive glands - the salivary glands, liver, and pancreas.

Digestion

Process by which food is broken down into absorbable units

Mouth

Digestion begins at this site

Ingestion

Act of taking food into the body and swallowing itM

Mastication

Process of biting and chewing with teeth and jaws

Bolus

Soft mass of chewed food swallowed at one time

Esophagus

Measuring about 10 inches long, it connects the mouth to the stomach

Epiglottis

Food is prevented from entering the respiratory tract and lungs, it is a small flap at the top of the trachea

Peristalsis

Rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the esophageal muscles

Peristalsis

Reduces further size of food particles and mixes them thoroughly with digestive secretions

Hydrochloric acid

Secreted from parietal cells

Gastrin

A hormone secreted by G cells

Intrinsic factor

Secreted by parietal cells

Food in the stomach causes the release of the hormone _____, which in turn stimulates the stomach wall to secrete _____ and _____