Unit F: Digestive System

Digestion

The process of changing complex solid foods into simpler soluble forms that cells can absorb.

Enzyme

A chemical substance that can promote reactions in living things.

Alimentary Canal

Also known as the digestive tract or gastrointestinal tract, it refers to the pathway through which food travels.

Mucosa

The innermost layer of the alimentary canal made of epithelial cells that secrete digestive juices.

Peritoneum

A double layered serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.

Bolus

A rounded mass of food that has been chewed and prepared for swallowing.

Chyme

A semi-liquid, creamy substance formed from food after being digested in the stomach.

Villi

Finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for absorption.

Defecation

The elimination of feces from the digestive system.

Flatulence

Gas formation due to bacterial action in the large intestine.

Gallbladder

A small organ that stores and concentrates bile until it is needed by the body.

Cirrhosis

A chronic disease of the liver where normal tissue is replaced by scar tissue, leading to blockage of blood flow.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

An intestinal disorder causing pain, gas, diarrhea, and constipation, most common in women.

Peptic Ulcers

Sores or lesions that form in the lining of the stomach, often caused by H. pylori bacteria.

Hydrochloric Acid

An acidic solution produced in the stomach that helps break down food and destroy bacteria.

Mastication

The process of mechanical breakdown of food through chewing.

Ptyalin

Also known as salivary amylase, an enzyme in saliva that converts starches into simple sugars.

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder, which can result in pain and infection.

Hiatal Hernia

A condition in which the upper part of the stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm.