Gastrointestinal, Reproductive, and Urinary Systems – Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of 145 English vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, reproductive, and urinary systems lecture notes.

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract

Muscular tube extending from the lips of the oral cavity to the anus.

Alimentary canal

Other term for Gastrointestinal tract

Roughly 30 feet

Average length of GI tract

Oral cavity

Region from lips to pharynx where initial digestion and absorption occur.

Starch

Aka amylase

Digested by the salivary gland

Isthmus of the Fauces

Opening between the oral cavity and pharynx located between palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus muscles.

Palatoglossus muscle

Forms the anterior pillar of the fauces.

Palatopharyngeus muscle

Forms the posterior pillar of the fauces.

Vermillion border

Transitional junction between the mucous membrane of the lips and the skin.

Dorsal surface of tongue

Keratinized upper surface of the tongue.

Ventral surface of tongue

Non-keratinized underside of the tongue.

Filiform papillae

Most numerous tongue papillae; lack taste buds.

Fungiform papillae

Mushroom-shaped papillae located at the tip and sides of the tongue.

Foliate papillae

Leaf-like papillae found posterolaterally on the tongue.

Circumvallate papillae

Large, least numerous papillae arranged in a V-shaped sulcus near the posterior tongue.

Esophagus

Muscular “food pipe” posterior to the larynx lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

Aka food-pipe or gullet

Upper esophageal constrictor

Muscular ring that initiates swallowing movements at the upper esophagus.

Lower esophageal constrictor

Muscular ring at the gastroesophageal junction ending at the Z-line.

Z-line of Lower Esophageal Constrictor

Terminal part of Esophagus.

Junction between esophageal squamous epithelium and gastric columnar epithelium.

Peristalsis

Long, wave-like contractions that propel chyme, most common in the esophagus.

Segmentation

Short, mixing contractions that chop chyme, most common in the intestines.

Barrette’s Esophagus

Condition where the normal simple squamous epithelium lining of the lower esophagus is replaced by intestinal-type columnar epithelium due to chronic irritation – usually from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Omeprazole (protein pump inhibitor)

Tx for GERD

Stomach

Hollow organ lined by simple columnar epithelium with microvilli that stores food and performs the second phase of digestion.

Cardia of stomach

Region of the stomach surrounding the entry of the esophagus.

Fundus of stomach

Dome-shaped superior portion of the stomach.

Body of stomach

Central, largest region of the stomach.

Pylorus

Distal stomach region that connects to the duodenum.

Mucous neck cell

Gastric gland cell that secretes mucus for protection against acid.

Parietal or Oxyntic cell

Gastric gland cell that produces hydrochloric acid, intrinsic factor, and gastroferrin.

Chief cell

Gastric gland cell that secretes pepsinogen, the inactive precursor of pepsin.

Pepsinogen

Inactive form of Pepsin

G cell

Gastric enteroendocrine cell that releases gastrin to stimulate acid secretion.

Cephalic phase of gastric secretion

Increased gastric secretion triggered by sight, smell, or thought of food.

Gastric phase

Increased gastric secretion that begins when food enters the stomach.

Intestinal phase

Phase in which chyme/food reaching the intestine inhibits gastric secretion.

Pyloric Sphincter (Pyloric pump)

What is the muscle that pumps chyme from stomach to small intestine?

Duodenum

Main muscle of digestion

Jejunum

Main site of absorption

Small intestine

Major site of digestion and absorption lined by simple columnar epithelium with microvilli.

simple columnar with microvilli

Small intestine is lined with ____

Valves of Kerckring

Aka Plicae Circulares

Elevations or folds in the small intestine

▪ to increase surface area for absorption

Intestinal villus

Finger-like projection extending from the folds to enlarge absorptive area.

Villi

projects from valves of kerckring; to increase surface area for absorption

Microvilli

projects from villi; to increase surface area for absorption

Duodenum

C-shaped first, shortest segmenr of the small intestine.

Jejunum

Valves of kerckring, Villi and Microvilli are most numerous here

Major site for absorption of all nutrients

Middle segment of the small intestine; has the greatest number of folds, villi, and microvilli and is the main site of nutrient absorption.

Ileum

Longest segment of the small intestine where folds, villi, and microvilli decrease and Peyer’s patches appear.

Peyer’s patches

non-encapsulated specialized tonsils.

Aggregated lymphoid nodules in the ileum that monitor intestinal bacteria.

Brunner’s gland

Duodenal submucosal gland that secretes alkaline mucus.

Goblet cell

Mucus-secreting epithelial cell found throughout the small and large intestines.

Crypts of Lieberkühn

Intestinal glands located at the small intestine containing various cell types, including enteroendocrine cells.

Enterocyte

Simple columnar cell with microvilli responsible for absorption and digestion

Paneth cell

Intestinal gland cell that secretes lysozyme to digest bacterial cell walls.

Enteroendocrine cell

Hormone-producing intestinal cell that regulates digestive activity.

G cells

Enteroendocrine cell that secretes Gastrin, that stimulates gastric acid secretion in stomach

I cell

Enteroendocrine cell that secretes cholecystokinin (CCK).

Stimulates Pancreatic enzyme, bile secretion, and relaxation of sphincter of Oddi

S cell

Enteroendocrine cell that secretes secretin.

Stimulates pancreas to produce ALKALINE mucous

K cell

Enteroendocrine cell that produces gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP).

Inhibits gastric motility

Enterochromaffin cell

Intestinal endocrine cell that secretes serotonin and histamine.

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

Hormone that stimulates pancreatic enzyme secretion, bile release, and sphincter of Oddi relaxation.

Secretin

Hormone that stimulates the pancreas to secrete alkaline fluid and inhibits gastric motility.

Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP)

Hormone that inhibit gastric motility

Serotonin (intestinal)

Neurotransmitter that increases intestinal motility.

Histamine (GI)

Paracrine agent that stimulates gastric acid secretion.

Large intestine

Organ extending from cecum to anal canal that absorbs water and electrolytes and forms feces.

Taenia coli

Three longitudinal muscle bands of the large intestine responsible for peristalsis and segmentation.

Forms the Haustra

Haustra

Sacculated segments of the large intestine formed by taenia coli contractions.

Goblet cells

increase in number towards large intestine – coats feces with mucus

Enterocytes, villi and microvilli

continuous to decrease in number in large intestine (or NONE at all).

IgM

First antibody to be secreted when there is infection

IgA

Antibody found in body fluids or GI tract

IgG

Antibody for permanent immunity; the only antibody that can cross placental barrier

IgE

Antibody that causes allergies

IgD

Antibody whose function in unknown

Liver

Large gland that performs metabolism, detoxification, protein synthesis, and bile production.

Hepatocyte

Most versatile cell

➢ Functional unit of Liver

➢ Protein synthesis and detoxification of toxins

➢ Drug (microsomal Cytochrome P450) and Alcohol metabolism

➢ Lipid synthesis

➢ Bile production – for emulsification of fats

Functional parenchymal cell of the liver responsible for metabolic and synthetic activities.

Sinusoids

The most permeable capillaries that are found in liver, lymphoid tissues, endocrine glands, and hematopoietic organs are known as what?

Portal vein, hepatic artery, and bile duct

The portal triad is made of?

Superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein

Hepatic portal vein is formed by the union of?

Kupffer cell

Liver macrophage that removes pathogens and debris from blood.

Sinusoidal capillary

Most permeable type of capillary found in liver, lymphoid organs, endocrine glands, and hematopoietic tissue.

Portal triad

Grouping of a branch of the hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct within the liver.

Hepatic portal vein

Vessel formed by the union of the superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein.

Gallbladder

Organ lined by simple columnar epithelium with microvilli that stores and excretes bile.

Cystic duct

Duct that carries bile between the gallbladder and common bile duct.

Glands of Luschka

Small mucous glands occasionally found in the gallbladder wall.

Cholecystokinin response

Main hormonal trigger for gallbladder contraction and bile release.

Pancreas

Mixed exocrine-endocrine gland whose exocrine portion secretes digestive enzymes and alkaline fluid.

Wirsung duct

Major pancreatic duct that drains pancreatic secretions into the duodenum.

Duct of Santorini

Accessory pancreatic duct that may also empty pancreatic juice into the duodenum.

Sphincter of Oddi

opens or closes the hepatopancreatic duct to allow excretion of bile and pancreatic enzymes

Hepatopancreatic ampulla (Ampulla of Vater)

Union of the common bile duct and main pancreatic duct that opens into the duodenum.

Aka Ampulla of Vaterof duodenum

Pancreatic acinar cell

Exocrine pancreatic cell that synthesizes and secretes digestive enzymes.

Pancreatic lipase

Enzyme that breaks down dietary fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

Pancreatic amylase

Enzyme that digests starch into maltose and small glucose polymers.

Trypsinogen

Enzyme that breaks down protein

Inactive precursor that is converted to trypsin for protein digestion.

Trypsin

Active pancreatic protease that activates other zymogens and breaks down proteins.

Chymotrypsinogen

Inactive precursor of chymotrypsin, a pancreatic protease.

Male reproductive system

Organs and ducts that produce, mature, and transport sperm.