med term: ch5: digestive system

absorption

Passage of materials through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream.

amino acids

Small building blocks of proteins, released when proteins are digested.

amylase

Enzyme (-ase) secreted by the pancreas and salivary glands to digest starch (amyl/o).

anus

Terminal end or opening of the digestive tract to the outside of the body.

appendix

Blind pouch hanging from the cecum (in the right lower quadrant \[RLQ\]). It literally means hanging (pend/o) onto (ap-, which is a form of ad-).

bile

Digestive juice made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It breaks up (emulsifies) large fat globules. Originally was called gall (Latin bilis, meaning gall or anger), probably because it has a bitter taste. It is composed of bile pigments (colored materials), cholesterol, and bile salts.

bilirubin

pigment released by the liver in bile

bowel

intestine

canine teeth

Pointed, dog-like teeth (canine means pertaining to dog) next to the incisors. Also called cuspids or eyeteeth.

cecum

first part of the large intestine

colon

portion of the large intestine consisting of the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid segments

common bile duct

Carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum.
Also called the choledochus

defecation

deglutition

swallowing

dentin

Primary material found in teeth. It is covered by the enamel in the crown and a protective layer of cementum in the root.

digestion

breakdown of complex foods to simpler forms

elimination

Removal of materials from the body; in the digestive system, the removal of indigestible materials as feces

emulsification

Breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules. This increases the surface area that enzymes can use to digest the fat.

enamel

hard, outermost layer of a tooth

enzyme

chemical that speeds up a reaction between substances. digestive ones break down complex foods to simple substances. usually end in -ase

esophagus

tube connecting the throat to the stomach.

fatty acids

substances produced when fats are digested

feces

solid wastes; stool.

gallbladder

small sac under the liver; stores bile

glucose

simple sugar

glycogen

starch; glucose is stored in the form of this in liver cells

hydrochloric acid in the stomach

a substance produced in the stomach to aid in digestion

ileum

third part of the small intestine that can be an area of an obstruction during an autopsy

incisor

any of the four front teeth in the dental arch

insulin

Hormone produced by the endocrine cells of the pancreas. It helps transport sugar into body cells.

jejunum

second part of the small intestine that is usually always empty during an autopsy

lipase

Pancreatic enzyme necessary to digest fats.

liver

Large organ located in the RUQ of the abdomen. The liver secretes bile; stores sugar, iron, and vitamins; produces blood proteins; destroys worn-out red blood cells; and filters out toxins

lower esophageal sphincter (LES)

Ring of muscles between the esophagus and the stomach

mastification

chewing

molar teeth

Three large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth, on either side of the dental arch

palate

roof of the mouth

hard palate

anterior to the soft palate and is supported bu the upper jawbone

soft plate

posterior fleshy part between the mouth and the throat

pancreas

organ behind the stomach; produces insulin and enzymes

papillae

small projections on the tongue. Taste buds are located within it

taste buds

taste receptor cells

parotid gland

salivary gland within the cheek, just anterior to the ear

peristalsis

Rhythmic contractions of the tubular organs. In the gastrointestinal tract, peristalsis moves the contents through at different rate

pharynx

throat, the common passageway for food the mouth and for air from the nose

portal vein

large vein bringing blood to the liver from the intestines

protease

enzyme that digests protein

pulp

soft tissue within a tooth, containing nerves and blood vessels

pyloric sphincter

ring of muscle at the end of the stomach, near the duodenum. it is normally closed, but opens when a wave of peristalsis passes over it

pylorus

distal region of the stomach, opening to the duodenum

rectum

last section of the large intestine, connecting the end of the colon and the anus

rugae

ridges on the hard palate and the wall of the stomach

saliva

Digestive juice produced by salivary glands

salivary glands

parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands

sigmoid colon

lower, S-shaped segment on the colon, just before the rectum which it empties into.

sphincter

circular ring of muscle that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening

stomach

muscular organ that receives food from the esophagus where it is made up of the fundus, body, and antrum

triglycerides

Fat molecules composed of three parts fa􀄴y acids and one part glycerol.

uvula

Soft tissue hanging from the middle of the soft palate.

villi (singular is villus)

Microscopic projections in the wall of the small intestine that absorb nutrients into the bloodstream.

an/o

anus

append/o or appendic/o

appendix

bucc/o

cheek

cec/o

cecum

celi/o

belly, abdomen

cheil/o

lip

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

choledoch/o

common bile duct

col/o or colon/o

colon

dent/i

tooth

duoden/o

duodenum

enter/o

intestines, usually small intestine

esophag/o

esophagus

faci/o

face

gastr/o

stomach

gingiv/o

gums

gloss/o

tongue

hepat/o

liver

ile/o

ileum

jejun/o

jejunum

labi/o

lip

lapar/o

abdomen

lingu/o

tongue

mandibul/o

lower jaw, mandible

odont/o

tooth

or/o

mouth

palat/o

palate

pancreat/o

pancreas

peritone/o

peritoneum

pharyng/o

throat

proct/o

anus and rectum

pylor/o

pyloric sphincter

rect/o

rectum

sialaden/o

salivary gland

sigmoid/o

sigmoid colon

stomat/o

stomach

uvul/o

uvula

amyl/o

starch

bil/i

gall, bile

bilbirubin/o

bilirubin (bile pigment)