CHAPTER 5 VOCABULARY

Absorption

Passage of materials in walls of small intestine to blood stream.

Amino acids

Small building blocks of protein, released when proteins are digested.

Amylase

Enzyme secreted by the pancreas and salivary glands to digest starch.

Appendix

Blind pouch hanging from the cecum in the RLQ.

Bile

Digestive juice made in the liver and stored in gallbladder, it breaks up large fat globules.

Bilirubin

Pigment released by 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 large intestine consisting of ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid segments.

Common bile duct

Carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum.

Deglutition

Swallowing.

Dentin

Primary material found in teeth, covered by enamel in the crown.

Digestion

Breakdown of complex foods to simpler forms.

Duodenum

First part of small intestine, measuring 12 inches long.

Emulsification

Breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules increasing the area for digestive action.

Enamel

Hard outermost layer of a tooth.

Enzyme

Chemical that speeds up a reaction between substances.

Esophagus

Tube connecting throat to stomach.

Fatty acids

Substances produced when fats are digested.

Fecal

Pertaining to feces.

Glucose

Simple sugar.

Glycogen

Starch, glucose stored in liver cells.

Hydrochloric acid

Strong acid made by stomach to help digestion.

Gallbladder

Small sac under the liver that stores bile.

Ileum

Third part of small intestine, appears twisted at autopsy.

Incisor

One of the four front teeth in dental arch.

Insulin

Hormone produced by pancreas helping transport sugar to body cells.

Jejunum

Second part of small intestine, always empty when examined post-mortem.

Lipase

Pancreatic enzyme necessary to digest fats.

Liver

Large organ that secretes bile, stores sugar, and filters toxins.

Lower esophageal sphincter (LES)

Ring of muscles between esophagus and stomach.

Mastication

Chewing.

Molar teeth

Three large flat teeth at back of the mouth.

Hard Palate

Roof of mouth.

Maxilla

Upper jaw bone.

Soft palate

Behind the hard palate.

Pancreas

Organ that produces insulin and enzymes.

Papillae

Small ridges on tongue containing taste buds.

Parotid gland

Salivary glands within the cheek anterior to the ear.

Peristalsis

Rhythmic contractions of the tubular organs in the gastrointestinal tract.

Pharynx

Throat.

Portal vein

Large vein bringing blood to the liver from intestines.

Protease

Enzyme that digests protein.

Pulp

Soft tissue within tooth containing nerves and blood vessels.

Pyloric sphincter

Ring of muscle at the end of the stomach.

Rectum

Last section of the large intestine connecting to the anus.

Rugae

Ridges on hard palate and wall of stomach.

Saliva

Digestive juice produced by salivary glands containing amylase.

Salivary glands

Glands producing saliva, including parotid, sublingual, and submandibular.

Sigmoid colon

Lower s-shaped segment of the colon.

Sphincter

Circular ring of muscle that constricts a passage.

Stomach

Muscular organ receiving food from the esophagus.

Triglycerides

Fat molecules composed of fatty acids and glycerol.

Uvula

Soft tissue hanging from roof of mouth.

Villi

Microscopic projections in the wall of the small intestine.