Monogastric Digestion Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to monogastric digestion, anatomy, and mechanical and chemical breakdown from Chapter 1 through Chapter 6.

Monogastric

Refers to a simple stomach animal that has one stomach, including humans, dogs, cats, and pigs.

Ingestion

The simple process of getting food into the body.

Digestion

The process of breaking food down in the body.

Mechanical Digestion

Also referred to as physical digestion, it is the process of breaking food down using force applied by muscles.

Chemical Digestion

The process of breaking down food in the body using either acid or enzymes.

Absorption

The process of getting nutrients from the intestines into the bloodstream.

Nutrients

Substances absorbed from the intestines into the blood, including water, protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals.

Mastication

The scientific name for chewing, which uses jaw muscles and teeth to physically break down food in the mouth.

Monogastric Teeth Types

The four types of teeth found in the monogastric mouth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.

Amylase

An enzyme found in the mouth that specifically breaks down starch.

Saliva

A mouth secretion composed of three major components: water, amylase, and bicarb.

Bicarb

A base and buffer present in saliva and mucus that raises pH away from acid to provide acid protection.

pH

A measure typically ranging from $1$ to $14$, where a lower number indicates a higher concentration of acid.

Epiglottis

A flap in the throat that diverts food into the esophagus and air into the appropriate place.

Esophagus

A tube-like structure that connects the throat to the stomach.

Peristalsis

Wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the esophagus into the stomach without breaking the food down.

Esophageal Mucus

A substance produced in the esophagus containing bicarb that lubricates food and protects the tissue from acid.