Digestion Flashcards

Flashcards related to digestion

Amylase

Enzymes that break down carbohydrates.

Insulin

A hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood.

"Fatty apron"

A fold of peritoneum containing large amounts of adipose tissue that hangs down from the stomach like an apron.

Rugae

Folds in the stomach lining.

Glycogenesis

The formation of glycogen from glucose.

Glycogenolysis

The breakdown of glycogen to glucose.

Gluconeogenesis

The formation of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources like fats and proteins.

Ketone bodies

Byproducts of fat metabolism, produced when the body doesn't have enough glucose for energy.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy carrier in cells.

Cellulose

A complex carbohydrate that is the main structural component of plant cell walls.

Peyer's patches

Small masses of lymphatic tissue found in the ileum, containing large numbers of lymphocytes and other immune cells.

Lacteals

Specialized lymphatic vessels in the small intestine that absorb fats and other lipids.

Metabolism

The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.

Catabolism

The breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Anabolism

The synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy.

Pepsin

A digestive enzyme of the stomach that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides.

Cholecystokinin

A hormone that stimulates the gallbladder to release bile and the pancreas to release enzymes.

Secretin

A hormone that stimulates the secretion of bicarbonate ions from the pancreas.

Gastrin

A hormone that stimulates the secretion of gastric acid (HCl) by parietal cells in the stomach.

Pepsinogen

The inactive precursor of pepsin, secreted by chief cells in the stomach.

Histamine

A compound released by cells in the stomach that stimulates the production of gastric acid.

Intrinsic factor

A substance produced by parietal cells in the stomach that is essential for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestine.

Paneth cells

Specialized secretory cells found in the crypts of Lieberkühn in the small intestine, which produce antimicrobial substances.

Absorptive cells

Epithelial cells in the small intestine that absorb nutrients from the digested food.

Endocrine cells

Cells in the digestive system that produce hormones.

Crypts of Lieberkuhn

Tubular glands that lie between the intestinal villi and secrete intestinal juice.

Parietal cells

Epithelial cells in the stomach that secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) and intrinsic factor.

Chief cells

Epithelial cells in the stomach that secrete pepsinogen, which is converted to pepsin.

Mucous neck cells

Epithelial cells in the stomach that secrete mucus.

Kupffer cells

Macrophages located in the liver that remove bacteria, debris, and damaged cells from the blood.

Hepatocytes

The main functional cells of the liver responsible for a wide variety of metabolic, secretory, and endocrine functions.

Goblet cells

Mucus-secreting cells found throughout the digestive tract.

Gastric glands

Glands located within the gastric pits of the stomach that secrete gastric juice.

Gastric pits

Depressions in the gastric mucosa that contain gastric glands.

Hydrochloric acid

A strong acid secreted by parietal cells in the stomach that aids in digestion.

Chyme

The acidic fluid passing from the stomach to the small intestine, consisting of gastric juices and partly digested food.

Hepatopancreatic ampulla

A bulge in the duodenum where the common bile duct and pancreatic duct deliver their secretions

Sphincter of Oddi

A sphincter that controls the flow of bile and pancreatic juice into the duodenum.

Emulsification

The breakdown of large fat globules into smaller, uniformly distributed particles in the small intestine, aided by bile.

Complete protein

A protein source that contains all nine essential amino acids

Incomplete protein

A protein source that does not contain all nine essential amino acids

Metabolic rate

The rate at which the body uses energy.