Digestion Extra Terms

cardia

the region where the esophagus empties into the stomach

fundus

the dome-shaped top of the stomach

body

the largest portion of the stomach

pyloric antrum

the inferior portion of the stomach

pylorus

the terminal portion of the stomach which abuts the duodenum

pyloric sphincter

a ring of smooth muscle between the stomach and duodenum that controls the flow of chyme between the two organs

greater curvature of stomach

the long, convex, lateral surface of the stomach that begins at the cardiac notch, and arches backwards, passing inferiorly to the left

lesser curvature of stomach

the shorter, concave, medial surface of the stomach that attaches to the hepatogastric ligament

pancreas

an endocrine and exocrine organ located inferior and posterior to the stomach that secretes enzymes and other products for digestion and the hormones insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin

liver

the large organ in the right upper quadrant of the abdominopelvic cavity

• functions include diverse metabolic activities, filtering blood from most abdominal organs, and bile production

gastrin

a hormone secreted by gastric glands that triggers acid secretion from parietal cells

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

a hormone produced by the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary that causes the insertion of aquaporin channels in the cells of the distal tubule and collecting system to allow water reabsorption

atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)

a hormone produced by cells of the heart that triggers the excretion of sodium ions (and indirectly water) from the renal tubule of the kidneys

angiotensin-II

a hormone that has widespread effects on the body, which include causing vasoconstriction of all vessels, restoring the glomerular filtration rate, promoting ADH and aldosterone release, and increasing sodium ion and water reabsorption from the kidneys

renin

an enzyme produced by JG cells in response to a decline in systemic blood pressure or sympathetic nervous system stimulation; converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin-I

somatostatin

a hormone produced by the hypothalamus that inhibits the release of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland

secretin

a peptide hormone produced in the duodenum (small intestine) that regulates digestive pH by triggering the pancreas and bile ducts to release bicarbonate-rich fluids

gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP)

a hormone secreted by K cells in the small intestine (duodenum/jejunum) following food ingestion, particularly fats and carbohydrates

cholecystokinin (CCK)

a hormone produced by duodenal enteroendocrine cells that triggers the secretion of digestive enzymes and other proteins from the pancreas