Digestive terminology (Set 4 liver gallbladder pancreas)

liver

• Definition: Large metabolic organ

• Location: Right upper abdomen, below diaphragm

• Function: Produces bile and processes nutrients

bile

• Definition: Digestive fluid that contains bile salts

• Location: Made in liver, stored in gallbladder

• Function: Breaks fats into smaller droplets (emulsification)

gallbladder

• Definition: Small storage organ

• Location: Under liver

• Function: Stores and concentrates bile

cystic duct

• Definition: Tube connecting gallbladder

• Location: Between gallbladder and common bile duct

• Function: Carries bile in and out of gallbladder

hepatic duct

• Definition: Bile duct from liver

• Location: Liver

• Function: Transports bile toward small intestine

common bile duct

• Definition: Main bile-carrying duct

• Location: Liver/gallbladder → duodenum

• Function: Delivers bile to small intestine

pancreas

• Definition: Gland with digestive and endocrine functions

• Location: Behind stomach

• Function: Produces digestive enzymes and bicarbonate

pancreatic juice

• Definition: Enzyme-rich fluid

• Location: Secreted by pancreas into duodenum

• Function: Breaks down proteins, carbs, and fats

pancreatic duct

• Definition: Tube from pancreas

• Location: Connects pancreas to duodenum

• Function: Carries pancreatic juice

hepatopancreatic ampulla

• Definition: Junction of bile and pancreatic ducts

• Location: Duodenum

• Function: Releases bile and enzymes into intestine

hepatopancreatic sphincter

• Definition: Smooth muscle valve

• Location: At ampulla opening in duodenum

• Function: Controls flow of bile and pancreatic juice

bicarbonate ions (HCO₃ -)

• Definition: Alkaline component of pancreatic juice

• Location: Released into duodenum

• Function: Neutralizes acidic chyme

lipase

• Definition: Fat-digesting enzyme

• Location: Pancreas → small intestine

• Function: Breaks fats into fatty acids and glycerol

trypsinogen

• Definition: Inactive enzyme precursor

• Location: Produced by pancreas

• Function: Activated to trypsin in small intestine

trypsin

• Definition: Protein-digesting enzyme

• Location: Small intestine

• Function: Breaks proteins into smaller peptides (continued digestion)

chymotrypsin

• Definition: Protein-digesting enzyme

• Location: Small intestine

• Function: Breaks proteins into smaller peptides

carboxypeptidase

• Definition: Enzyme that removes amino acids

• Location: Small intestine

• Function: Breaks peptides into individual amino acids