Digestion in the Mammalian Digestive System

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to digestion and the mammalian digestive system.

The process of breaking down food into smaller, absorbable components through mechanical and chemical means.

Digestion

A chemical reaction in which water is used to break down the bonds of a particular substance.

Hydrolysis

An enzyme in gastric juice that begins protein digestion by breaking down proteins into smaller peptides.

Pepsin

The semi-fluid mass of partially digested food that is produced in the stomach and passed into the small intestine.

Chyme

The series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food along the digestive tract.

Peristalsis

A digestive fluid produced by the liver that emulsifies fats for digestion.

Bile

An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch into sugars.

Amylase

Small, finger-like projections that line the surface of the small intestine and increase its surface area for absorption.

Villi

The process by which nutrients from digested food are transferred into the bloodstream.

Absorption

The alteration of a protein's natural structure due to factors such as temperature and pH, which affects its function.

Denaturation

A small organ that stores bile produced by the liver until it is needed in the small intestine.

Gallbladder

A mixture of digestive enzymes and bicarbonate produced by the pancreas that aids in the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Pancreatic juices

Molecules consisting of a nitrogenous base and a sugar, important in the metabolism of nucleic acids.

Nucleosides

A type of tissue that lines the cavities and surfaces of organs throughout the body, including the esophagus.

Epithelial tissue

Lymphatic vessels in the small intestine that absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins.

Lacteals

The part of the digestive system where water is absorbed and the remaining material is stored as feces.

Large intestine

An organ where food is mixed with gastric juices, and digestion of proteins begins.

Stomach

The first section of the small intestine where the majority of chemical digestion occurs.

Duodenum