Digestive System Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomy and physiological processes of the human digestive system based on lecture materials.

Digestive System

A system used for breaking down food into nutrients which then pass into the circulatory system and are taken to where they are needed in the body.

Ingestion

The first stage of food processing, which involves taking in food.

Digestion

The second stage of food processing, involving the breaking down of food into nutrients.

Absorption

The third stage of food processing, where nutrients are taken in by cells; approximately $90\%$ of this occurs in the small intestine.

Egestion

The final stage of food processing, which is the removal of any leftover wastes.

Amylase

An enzyme contained in saliva that helps break down starch.

Epiglottis

A flap-like structure at the back of the throat that closes over the trachea to prevent food from entering the windpipe.

Incisors

Types of teeth used for biting and cutting.

Canines

Types of teeth used for grasping and tearing.

Pre-Molars and Molars

Types of teeth used for grinding and crushing.

Frenulum

The thin layer of tissue that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth.

Umami

The fifth basic taste, discovered by Dr Kikumae Ikeda in $1908$, described as a subtle and savory taste associated with ripe tomatoes and cheese.

Papillae

Raised areas or "bumps" on the tongue used to grip food and containing taste buds.

Fungiform papillae

The larger type of papillae located in the front of the tongue.

Filiform papillae

The smaller type of papillae located in the front of the tongue.

Vallate papillae

The large papillae located in the back of the tongue, of which there are only $8$ to $10$.

Bolus

A ball of food formed by the tongue before it is passed to the pharynx.

Peristalsis

A wave of muscular contractions that push the bolus down through the esophagus towards the stomach.

Esophageal sphincter

A tight muscle that the bolus must pass through to enter the stomach; it functions to keep stomach acid out of the esophagus.

Gastric juice

A mixture of stomach acid, mucus, and enzymes used by the stomach to break down food.

Chyme

The name given to the digested bolus after it leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine.

Duodenum

The first part of the small intestine, which is the tube that runs from the stomach.

Jejunum

The middle portion of the small intestine where the majority of absorption takes place.

Ileum

The last portion of the small intestine which compacts leftovers to pass through into the large intestine.

Glycogen

The form in which the liver stores glucose molecules when they are strung together.

Bile

A chemical made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder that helps break down fats into smaller clumps.

Emulsification

The mechanical digestion process where bile breaks large fat globules into smaller fat droplets.

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas that controls how much sugar is in the blood.

Pancreatic juice

A secretion from the pancreas that neutralizes chyme acid and contains enzymes to digest fats, proteins, and starches.

Large Intestine (Colon)

An organ used to absorb water and salts from waste material and produce vitamin K and B vitamins using helpful bacteria.

Vitamin K

A vitamin produced by bacteria in the colon that helps blood to clot.

Feces

The waste material formed by the large intestine after water is removed from chyme.

Appendix

A wormlike tube on the cecum that provides a safe place for friendly bacteria to hide when the body is ill.

Flatulence

A side effect caused by bacteria in the intestines releasing gases while digesting complex carbohydrates like those found in beans.

Fiber

Plant material that cannot be digested, which helps speed up the process of moving chyme through the large intestine.