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These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to the digestive system, including key terms and their definitions.
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Digestive System
Organ system that breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste.
Digestion
Mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into absorbable molecules.
Mechanical Digestion
Physical breakdown of food (chewing, churning, segmentation).
Chemical Digestion
Enzymatic breakdown of food into smaller molecules.
Absorption
Process by which nutrients pass from the digestive tract into blood or lymph.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract
Continuous muscular tube from mouth to anus.
Accessory Digestive Organs
Organs that aid digestion but are not part of the GI tract (e.g., teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas).
Peritoneum
Serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering abdominal organs.
Visceral Peritoneum
Membrane that covers abdominal organs.
Peritoneal Cavity
Potential space between parietal and visceral peritoneum containing serous fluid.
Retroperitoneal
Position behind the peritoneum; includes pancreas, kidneys, portions of intestines.
Mucosa (Mucous Membrane)
Innermost layer of GI tract; involved in secretion and absorption.
Muscularis Externa
Smooth muscle layer responsible for peristalsis and segmentation.
Peristalsis
Wave-like muscular contractions that propel food through the GI tract.
Segmentation
Mixing contractions that churn food in the small intestine.
Sphincter
Ring of muscle that controls passage of material between GI regions.
Salivary Amylase (Ptyalin)
Enzyme in saliva that begins starch digestion.
Bolus
Mass of chewed food mixed with saliva.
Deglutition (Swallowing)
Process of moving food from mouth to stomach.
Chyme
Semifluid mixture of partially digested food and gastric juice.
Gastric Juice
Acidic fluid containing HCl, pepsinogen, and intrinsic factor.
Pepsinogen
Inactive enzyme precursor converted to pepsin by HCl.
Intrinsic Factor
Glycoprotein necessary for vitamin B12 absorption in ileum.
Bile
Yellow-green fluid produced by liver; emulsifies fats.
Hepatic Portal System
Venous system carrying nutrient-rich blood from digestive organs to liver.
Cirrhosis
Chronic liver disease characterized by scarring and loss of liver function.
Probiotics
Beneficial live bacteria that support gut health.
Insulin
Pancreatic hormone that lowers blood glucose by promoting cellular uptake and storage.
Glucagon
Pancreatic hormone that raises blood glucose by promoting glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.
Parietal Peritoneum
lines abdominal wall
Villi
Finger-like projections in the small intestine lining that increase surface area for absorption.
Microvilli
Microscopic projections on the surface of absorptive cells that form the brush border.
Duodenum
The first and shortest part of the small intestine; primary site of chemical digestion.
Jejunum
The middle section of the small intestine, primarily involved in nutrient absorption.
Ileum
The final and longest section of the small intestine, absorbing vitamin B12 and bile salts.
Cholecystokinin (CCK)
A hormone that stimulates pancreatic enzyme release and gallbladder contraction.
Brush Border Enzymes
Digestive enzymes located on the microvilli of the small intestinal cells.
Colon
The main part of the large intestine, responsible for water absorption and forming feces.