Digestive System Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the digestive system, as discussed in the lecture notes.

Alimentary canal

Muscular tube extending from the mouth to the anus, including structures like the stomach and intestines.

Accessory digestive organs

Organs located near the alimentary canal that aid in digestion, such as teeth and pancreas.

Ingestion

The intake of food into the mouth.

Mastication

The mechanical process of chewing food into smaller pieces.

Segmentation

Muscular contractions in the digestive tract that mix and churn food with digestive secretions.

Chyme

Partially digested food mixed with gastric juice found in the stomach.

Villi

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

Peristalsis

Forward squeezing wave motion that moves food through the digestive tract.

Rugae

Folds in the stomach lining that assist in mixing and gripping food.

Bile

A greenish fluid produced by the liver that emulsifies fats during digestion.

Hepatocytes

Liver cells responsible for nutrient metabolism, bile production, and detoxification.

Pancreatic juice

Digestive fluid produced by the pancreas containing enzymes and bicarbonate.

Deglutition

The process of swallowing food, divided into buccal, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases.

Gastrin

A hormone produced by G cells in the stomach that stimulates digestive processes.

Intrinsic factor

A substance secreted by parietal cells necessary for vitamin B12 absorption.

Pyloric sphincter

A muscular valve that controls the passage of chyme from the stomach to the duodenum.

Goblet cells

Cells in the large intestine that secrete mucus.

Ileocecal valve

Valvular structure between the ileum of the small intestine and the cecum of the large intestine.

Defecation

The elimination of feces from the body through the anus.