Chapter 5 The Language of Medicine

absorption

passage of materials through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream

amino acids

small building blocks of proteins (like links in a chain), released when proteins are digested

amylase

enzyme (-ase) secreted by the pancreas and salivary glands to digest starch (amyl/o)

anus

terminal end or opening of the digestive tract to the outside of the body

appendix

blind pouch hanging from the cecum (in the RLQ). It literally means hanging (pend/o) onto (ap-, which is a form of ad-)

bile

digestive juice made in the liver and stored in the gallbadder. it breaks up (emulsifies) large fat globules. This originally was called gall, probably because it has a bitter taste. it is composed of bile pigments (colored materials), cholesterol, and bile salts

bilirubin

pigment released by the liver in bile

bowel

intestine

canine teeth

pointed, dog-like teeth next to incisors. also called cuspids or eyeteeth

cecum

first part of the large intestine

colon

portion of the large intestine consisting of the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid segments

common bile duct

carries bile from the liver and gallbadder to the duodenum. also called the choledochus

defecation

elimination of feces from the digestive tract through the anus

deglutition

swallowing

dentin

primary material found in teeth. it is covered by the enamel in the crown and a protective layer of cementum in the root.

digestion

breakdown of complex foods to simpler forms

duodenum

first part of the small intestine. Duo=2, den=10; the duodenum measures 12 inches long

elimination

act of removal of materials from the body; in the digestive system, the removal of indigestible material as feces

emulsification

physical process of breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules, thereby increasing the surface area that enzymes can use to digest the fat

enamel

hard, outermost layer of a tooth

enzyme

chemical that speeds up a reaction between substances. digestive e enzymes break down complex foods to simpler substances. enzymes are given names that end in -ase

esophagus

tube connecting the throat to the stomach. eso- means inward; phag/o - means swallowing

fatty acids

substances produced when fats are digested. fatty acids are a category of lipids

feces

solid wastes; stool

gallbladder

small sac under the liver; stores bile

glucose

simple sugar

glycogen

starch; glucose is stored in the form of glycogen in liver cells

hydrochloric acid

substance produced in the stomach; necessary for digestion of food

ileum

third part of the small intestine from the Greek eilos, meaning twisted. when the abdomen was viewed at autopsy, the intestine appeared twisted, and the ileum often was an area of obstruction

incisor

any one of our four front teeth in the dental arch

insulin

hormone produced by the endocrine cells of the pancreas. it transports sugar from the blood into cells and stimulates glycogen formation of the liver

jejunum

second part of the small intestine. the latin jejunus means empty; this part of the intestine was always empty when a body was examined after death

lipase

pancreatic enzyme necessary to digest fats

liver

large organ located in the RUQ of the abdomen. it secretes bile; stores sugar, iron, and vitamins; produces blood proteins; destroys worn-out RBCs; and filters out toxins. It weighs 2.5-3 pounds

lower esophageal sphincter (LES)

ring of muscles between the esophagus and the stomach. also called the cardiac sphincter

mastication

chewing

molar teeth

sixth, seventh, and eighth teeth from the middle of either side of the dental arch. premolar teeth are the fourth and fifth teeth, before the molars

palate

roof of the mouth. the hard palate lies anterior to the soft palate and is supported by the upper jawbone (maxilla). the soft palate is the posterior fleshy part between the mouth and the throat

pancreas

organ behind the stomach; produces insulin (for transport of sugar into cells) and enzymes (for digestion of foods)

papillae (singular:papilla)

small projections on the tongue. a papilla is a nipple-like elevation

parotid gland

salivary gland within the cheek, just anterior to the ear. note the literal meaning of parotid (par- = near; ot/o = ear)

peristalsis

rhythmic contractions of the tubular organs. in the GI tract, peristalsis moves the contents through at different rates; stomach, 0.5-2 hours; small intestine, 2 to 6 hours; and colon, 6 to 72 hours. peri - means surrounding; stalks is constriction

pharynx

throat, the common passageway for food from the mouth and for air from the hose

portal vein

large being bringing blood to the liver from the intestines

protease

enzyme that digests protein

pulp

soft tissue within a tooth, containing nerves and blood vessels

pyloric sphincter

ring of muscle at the end of the stomach, near the duodenum. from the greek pyloros, meaning gatekeeper. it is normally closed, but opens when a wave of peristalsis passes over it

pylorus

distal region of the stomach, opening to the duodenum

rectum

last section of the large intestine, connecting the end of the colon and the anus

rugae

ridges on the hard palate and the wall of the stomach

saliva

digestive juice produced by salivary glands. it contains the enzyme amylase, which begins the digestion of starch to sugar

salivary glands

parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands

sigmoid colon

fourth and last, S-shaped segment of the colon, just before the rectum; empties into the rectum

sphincter

circular ring of muscle that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening

stomach

muscular organ that receives food from the esophagus. the stomach's parts are the fundus (proximal section), body (middle section), and Antrum (distal section)

triglycerides

fat molecules composed of three parts fatty acids and one part glycerol. triglycerides )fats) are a subgroup of lipids. another type of lipid is cholesterol

uvula

soft tissue hanging from the middle of the soft palate. the latin UVA means bunch of grapes

villi (singular = villus)

microscopic projections in the wall of small intestine that absorb nutrients into the bloodstream

an/o

anus

append/o ; appendic/o

appendix

bucc/o

cheek

cec/o

cecum

celi/o

belly, abdomen

cheil/o

lip

cholecyst/o

gallballer

choledoch/o

common bile duct

col/o

colon

colon/o

colon

dent/i

tooth

duoden/o

duodenum

enter/o

intestines, usually small intestine

esophag/o

esophagus

faci/o

face

gastr/o

stomach

gingiv/o

gums

gloss/o

tongue

hepat/o

liver

ile/o

ileum

jejun/o

jejunem

labi/o

lip

lapar/o

abdomen

lingu/o

tongue

mandibul/o

lower jaw; mandible

odont/o

tooth

or/o

mouth

palat/o

palate

pancreat/o

pancreas

peritone/o

peritoneum

pharyng/o

throat

proct/o

anus and rectum

plyor/o

pyloric sphincter

rect/o

rectum

sialaden/o

salivary gland

sigmoid/o

sigmoid colon

stomat/o

mouth

uvul/o

uvula

amyl/o

starch

bil/o

gall, bile

bilirubin/o

bilirubin (bile pigment)

chol/e

gall, bile