Digestive System Vocabulary Review

A collection of vocabulary flashcards related to the digestive system.

Ingestion

Intake of food via the mouth.

Digestion

Mechanically or chemically breaking down foods into their subunits.

Mechanical Digestion

Physical breaking of food into smaller pieces.

Chemical Digestion

Breaking of chemical bonds so that complex molecules are broken into smaller subunits.

Gastrointestinal Tract

Digestive organs located within the digestive system.

Absorption

Movement of nutrients across the GI tract wall into the blood.

Elimination

Removal of indigestible wastes through defecation.

Bolus

Mixture of food and saliva after chewing.

Peristalsis

Contractions that push food through the digestive tract.

Chyme

A mixture of food and gastric juice.

Pyloric sphincter

Body part that allows only a small amount of chyme to enter the small intestine at a time.

Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)

Substance produced by gastric glands that kills pathogens and activates pepsinogen into pepsin.

Villi

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

Microvilli

Small projections on cells covering villi, increasing surface area and containing brush border enzymes.

Lactose Intolerance

Characterized by diarrhea, gas, and bloating after ingesting dairy products.

Celiac Disease

An autoimmune response against gluten protein found in certain grains.

The Gut Microbiome

A community of microbes that are both helpful and potentially harmful in the intestines.

Dietary Fiber

Non-digestible carbohydrate present in plants.

Soluble Fiber

Fiber that dissolves in water or is broken down by bacteria in the large intestine.

Insoluble Fiber

Fiber that does not dissolve in water and is not broken down by bacteria.

Bile

Substance produced by the liver that emulsifies fats.

Pancreatic Juice

Contains many digestive enzymes and bicarbonate important in neutralizing acid.

Trans Fats

Types of fats that can raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol.

Chylomicrons

Lipoprotein droplets formed from glycerol and fatty acids in the small intestine.

Feces

Material left in the large intestine after processing.

Constipation

Condition where material passes through the colon too slowly and too much water is absorbed.

Colonoscopy

Procedure to examine the entire colon.