med term ch. 11 digestive system

mouth

opening through which food passes into the body; breaks food into small particles by mastication (chewing) and mixing with saliva

tongue

consists mostly of skeletal muscle; attached in the posterior region of the mouth; provides movement of food for mastication, directs food to the pharynx for swallowing, and is a major organ for taste and speech

palate

separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity

soft palate

posterior portion of naval cavity separation, not supported by bone

hard palate

anterior portion of naval cavity separation, supported by bone

uvula

soft V-shaped structure that extends from the soft palate; directs food into the throat

pharynx

performs the swallowing action that passes food from the mouth into the esophagus (throat)

esophagus

10-inch tube that is a passageway for food extending from the pharynx to the stomach; peristalsis, involuntary wavelike movements that propel food along the gastrointestinal tract, begins here

stomach

J-shaped sac that mixes and stores food; secretes chemicals for digestion and hormones that act locally to control digestive system functions

cardia

area around the opening of the esophagus

fundus

proximal domed portion of the stomach

body

central portion of the stomach, distal to the fundus

antrum

distal portion of the stomach

pylorus

portion of the stomach that connects to the small intestine

pyloric sphincter

ring of muscle that guards the opening between the stomach and the duodenum

small intestine

20-foot tube extending from the pyloric sphincter to the large intestine; digestion is completed here; absorption, the passage of the nutrients (end products of digestion) from here to the bloodstream, takes place through the villi, tiny fingerlike projections that line the walls of the small intestine

duodenum

first 10-12 inches of the small intestine

jejunum

second portion of the small intestine, approximately 8 feet long

ileum

third portion of the small intestine, approximately 11 feet long, which connects with the large intestine

large intestine

approximately 5 feet long tube that extends from the ileum to the anus; absorption of water and transit of the solid waste products of digestion take place in the large intestine

cecum

U-shaped pouch that is the first portion of the large intestine

colon

main portion of the large intestine; divided into four parts: ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid

rectum

distal portion of the large intestine, approximately 8-10 inches long, extending from the sigmoid colon to the anus

anus

sphincter muscle (ringlike band of muscle fiber that keeps an opening tight) at the end of the gastrointestinal tract; provides for elimination of solid waste products of digestion

salivary glands

produce saliva, which flows into the mouth

liver

produces bile, which is necessary for the digestion of fats; performs many other functions concerned with digestion and metabolism

biliary tract

organ and ducts (passageways) that transport, store, and release bile (biliary system)

bile ducts

passageways that carry bile; hepatic duct collects bile formed in the liver; cystic duct transports bile to and from the gallbladder for storage

common bile duct

small, tubelike structure where the hepatic duct and cystic duct join; conveys bile to the duodenum to aid in the breakdowns of fats

gallbladder

small, saclike structure that stores bile produced by the liver

pancreas

produces pancreatic juice, which helps digest all types of food; secretes insulin for carbohydrate metabolism

peritoneum

serous saclike lining of the abdominal and pelvic region

appendix

small pouch, which has no known function in digestion; attached. to the cecum (vermiform appendix)

abdomen

portion of the body between the thorax and pelvis

an/o

anus

antr/o

antrum

cec/o

cecum

col/o

colon (large intestine)

colon/o

colon (large intestine)

duoden/o

duodenum

enter/o

intestines (usually the small intestine)

esophag/o

esophagus

gastr/o

stomach

ile/o

ileum

jejun/o

jejunum

or/o

mouth

proct/o

rectum

rect/o

rectum

sigmoid/o

sigmoid colon

stomat/o

mouth

abdomin/o

abdomen, abdominal cavity

append/o

appendix

appedic/o

appendix

celi/o

abdomen, abdominal cavity

cheil/o

lip(s)

cholangi/o

bile duct(s)

chol/e

gall, bile

choledoch/o

common bile duct

cyst/o

bladder, sac

diverticul/o

diverticulum (pouch extending from a hollow organ)

gingiv/o

gum(s)

gloss/o

tongue

hepat/o

liver

herni/o

hernia

lapar/o

abdomen, abdominal cavity

lith/o

stone, calculus

lingu/o

tongue

nas/o

nose

palat/o

palate

pacreat/o

pancreas

peritone/o

pertoneum

pharyng/o

pharynx

polyp/o

polyp, small growth

pylor/o

pylorus, pyloric sphincter

sial/o

saliva, salivary gland

steat/o

fat

uvul/o

uvula

a-

absence of, without

dys-

painful, abnormal, difficult, labored

hemi-

half

-ac

pertaining to

-al

pertaining to

-cele

hernia, protrusion

-centesis

surgical puncture to aspirate fluid (with a sterile needle)

-eal

pertaining to

-ectomy

excision, surgical removal

-gram

the record, radiographic image

-graphy

process of recording radiographic imaging

-iasis

condition

-ia

diseased or abnormal state, condition of

-ic

pertaining to

-itis

inflammation

-lith

stone(s), calculus

-logist

one who studies and treats

-logy

study of

-megaly

enlargement

-oma

tumor, swelling

-osis

abnormal condition (means increase when used with blood cell word roots)

-pathy

disease

-pepsia

digestion