Chapter 14 Vocab Digestive System

For Anatomy and Physiology

Ingestion

Process of taking food, drink, or other substance into the body by swallowing/absorbing it (Voluntary)

Digestion

Process of breaking down food by mechanical & enzymatic action

Absorption

Digested food move into the bloodstream

Defecation

Elimination of indigestable residues & gut bacteria to form feces

Alimentary canal

Also called Gastrointestinal tract (GI Tract) or gut

Mastication

Chewing

Sphincter

Rings of muscles surrounding and serving to guard/close can opening/tube

Nerve Plexus

2 types, responsible for regulating various digestive functions, including motility, secretion, and blood flow

Peritoneum

Serous Membrane lining the interior of abdominal cavity & covering abdominal organs

Muscularis Externa

3 layers of muscle in stomach that contract in different directions

Gastric Juice

Gastric gland that secrete the stomach cells that produce it

Alkaline

above 7 on the pH scale to aid in digestion and nutrient absorption in Small Intestine & Mouth

Chyme

Thick processed food consisting of gastric juices & digested food

Omentum

Fold of peritoneum connecting the stomach with other abdominal organs

Mesentery

Two layers of peritoneum fused together and posterior wall of abdomen

Villi

Fingerlike structures formed by mucosa

Lacteal

Modified lymphatic vessels of Small Intestine that absorbs fat

Brush Boarder

Mucosa cells that give the cell surface a fuzzy appearance

Pancreas

Triangular large gland posterior to the stomach between spleen & duodenum and secretes digestive enzymes

Retroperitoneal

Anatomical space situated or behind the peritoneum

Exocrine

Relating to glands that have ducts, through secretion carry to body surface

Bolus

Mucus that helps moistens and helps bind food together into a mass

Falciform Ligament

Curved delicate Mesentery cord in the Liver

Bile

Yellow to green watery solution in Gallbladder aids digestion and secreted by the liver

Jaundice

Medical condition tissues become yellow, from bile pigment appears as yellow skin

Peristalsis

Alternating waves of contraction & relaxation of longitudinal muscles

Deglutition

Swallowing

Monosaccharides

any class of sugar that can’t be hydrolyzed to give a simple sugar

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds that includes sugars, starches, & cellulose

Amino Acids

Building blocks of protein that broken down during digestion process

Gastrin

Stomach cells release this hormone

Pepsinogen

Inactive digestive enzyme, that's produced in the stomach and converted to pepsin

Pepsin

Active protein digesting enzyme

Emesis

Vomiting

Segmentation

Series of rhythmic contractions of the circular muscles in the small and large intestines

Resident Bacteria

Microorganisms that permanently reside in the gut metabolize remaining nutrients vitamins K & B

Secretin

S shaped like digestive hormone produced in the duodenum of the small intestine

CCK

(Cholecystokinin) Peptide hormone that plays a crucial role in digestion

Brush Border Enzymes

Enzymes located in the small intestine in the brush border membrane, also down double sugars into simple sugars

Pancreatic Juice

Digestive fluid produced by the pancreas