Health and Nutrition Module 6--Processing Nourishment and Hydration

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nutrients

small, absorbable molecules that provide energy and necessary components for body growth, maintenance, repair, and defense

digestion

the process of breaking down your nutrition into absorbable nutrients

nutrition

food

digestive tract/digestive system

a long tube through which food passes, is digested, and absorbed, expelling any unusable matter

how long is the digestive tract

over 25 feet long

digestive enzymes

the precise tools used for cutting protein chains into more manageable sizes

absorb

to transport digested, right-sized nutrients across the inner lining of the digestive system and into the blood to be distributed to the body’s cells where they are needed

epithelium

a layer of surface cells in the body

epithelial cells

the surface cells making up the epithelium

mucus

a thick, clear liquid that blankets the epithelial cells, protecting them from harmful chemicals

mucosa

epithelium that secretes mucus

goblet cells

specialized cells shaped like stemmed glassware that produce mucus

submucosa

a thin, loose layer in the tube that contains blood vessels and nerves

ducts

small channels from the liver or pancreas that allow digestive fluids to enter the digestive system

bile

a digestive fluid that helps emulsify fats

emulsify

stabilize fats as tiny droplets in a water-based fluid

quadrant

one side of one arch of teeth

incisors

teeth with sharp, knifelike edges for cutting

canine (tooth)

ends in a point, meant for piercing and tearing food

premolars/bicuspids

have 2 edge points with a flat biting surface between them

molar

have flat surfaces for grinding food

impacted teeth

teeth that fail to erupt

crown

the visible part of a tooth

enamel

a smooth calcium material that covers the crown; the hardest substance in the body

dentin

a less dense calcium substance under the crown that makes up the rest of the tooth

root

the part of the tooth encased in a socket in the jawbone

pulp

the soft material inside the tooth composed of blood vessels and neurons

gingiva

specialized mucosa that surrounds each tooth

dental erosion

the process of the protective enamel being washed away

sucrose

table sugar

tooth decay (cavity)

the “point of no return” in which bacteria weaken the dentine and undermine the surface enamel

saliva

spit

salivary glands

organs that produce saliva

salivary duct

the duct that carries the saliva into the mouth

bolus

swallowable mass

satiety

the feeling of satisfaction from having eaten enough food

smooth muscle

the kind of muscle that makes up the muscle tissue of the digestive system that works involuntarily

skeletal muscle

voluntary muscle

peristalsis

waves of rhythmic, moving rings of muscular contractions

mixing waves

smooth muscle activity that sloshes digestive food back and forth within a single organ, mixing it with digestive enzymes

sphincters

muscular rings that act like valves in a tube

pharynx

throat

nasopharynx

the nose part of the throat

soft palate

the flexible part of the roof of your mouth that lifts up and closes off the nasal cavity when swallowing

uvula

the extension of the soft palate that dangles down

larynx

voice box/Adam’s apple

epiglottis

an elastic flap of tissue in the pharynx that seals off the larynx from the pharynx

esophagus

the soft flat tube between the pharynx and the stomach

upper esophageal sphincter (UES)

the sphincter at the upper end of the pharynx

lower esophageal sphincter

the muscular ring at the top of the stomach (below the pharynx)

Abdominal thrusts/Heimlich maneuver

a technique used to expel food from a person’s pharynx while choking

umbilicus

navel, located in the middle of the abdomen

gastric juice

fluids added by tiny glands in the stomach to help with digestion

chyme

a smooth slurry formed by the churning and diluting of the bolus

hydrochloric acid

a highly corrosive acid that unravels proteins and begins protein digestion by activating pepsin

pepsin

a digestive enzyme

bulimia

a mental or emotional disorder characterized by forced vomiting

nausea

natural discomfort felt before vomiting

food poisoning

the most common cause of nausea and vomiting; the presence of harmful bacteria or their toxins in food

gastroenteritis

an infection of the bacteria or viruses in the mucosa of the digestive tract

vomiting

the forceful return of the stomach contents to the mouth to be expelled

intravenous (IV) fluid

a mix of sterile water, sugar, and salt

heartburn

the painful burning of the esophagus

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

a condition of repeated episodes of heartburn

heart attack

lack of blood flow to parts of the heart

stomach ulcer/peptic ulcer

an open wound in the mucosa

pyloric sphincter

the sphincter at the lower end of the stomach that keeps the chyme from entering the small intestine until it is churned enough

duodenum

the first section of the small intestine, 12 inches

jejunum

the 8 foot long second section of the small intestine

ileum

the 11 foot long last section of the small intestine

duodenal ulcers

open wounds in the duodenum caused by non-neutralized acids

crypts

tiny openings in the mucosa

lactase

the enzyme that breaks down lactose

lactose

the sugar found in milk

lactose intolerance

the result of a missing enzyme

the three jobs of the small intestine

neutralizing acid, digesting, and nutrient absorption

microvilli

microscopic villi

villi

small hairlike projections in the folds of the small intestine

villus

singular form of villi

capillary

the smallest kind of blood vessel

lacteals

the smallest kind of lymph vessels, named after their milk-like liquid

portal vein

a specialized blood vessel that carries water-soluble nutrients from the small intestine to the liver

regenerate

replace with functional cells

gall bladder

a small sac under the liver that stores bile by concentrating it, returning some of its water and salt to the blood

common bile duct

carries bile into the duodenum

gall stones

over-condensed stored bile that forms hard black balls that may cause inflammation if they get stuck or when the gall bladder contracts

gall bladder disease

when a gall stone gets stuck in the common bile duct

pancreas

a soft, glandular organ behind the stomach that produces pancreatic juice and stores inactive enzymes

pancreatic duct

the duct that releases the juices into the duodenum

bowel sounds

growling noises produced by intestines at work

ileocecal sphincter

the sphincter separating the small and large intestines

large intestine/colon

the final section of the digestive system tube

cecum

the dead end sac below the small intestine’s entry sphincter

ascending colon

goes upward towards the liver and turns to become the transverse colon

transverse colon

turns into the descending colon

descending colon

moves downwards towards the left side, bending into an S shape

sigmoid colon

the S-shaped curve of the large intestine, widens into the rectum

rectum

stores feces

microbiome/microbiota

the layer of organisms living inside the body

probiotic supplement capsules

capsules containing concentrated bacteria