Animals - Digestive System (accessory organs and enzymes)

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the digestive system, including organ functions, enzyme roles, and homeostasis.

Liver

The second largest organ in the body, produces bile, filters blood, extracts toxins, and regulates metabolism.

Gallbladder

Stores and concentrates bile from the liver, releasing it into the duodenum to aid in fat digestion.

Pancreas

An organ that secretes digestive enzymes, hormones, and sodium bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid in the small intestine.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of an internal state, regulated through negative feedback loops.

Enzymes

Catalysts that speed up biochemical reactions without being consumed in the process.

Pepsin

An enzyme in the stomach that breaks down proteins into peptides; active at low pH.

Amylase

An enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose, secreted by salivary glands and the pancreas.

Lipase

An enzyme that breaks down fats into glycerol and fatty acids.

Protease

An enzyme that breaks down proteins into amino acids.

Secretin

A hormone released by the duodenum that stimulates the pancreas to release bicarbonate.

CCK (Cholecystokinin)

A hormone that signals the gallbladder to secrete bile in response to fats in the duodenum.

Glycogen

A stored form of glucose found in the liver; converted back to glucose as needed.

Activation Energy

The minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur, which enzymes help to lower.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates that must be broken down into monosaccharides for absorption.

Triglycerides

A form of fats that are broken down into smaller molecules for absorption in the bloodstream.

Negative Feedback

A process that counteracts a change in a variable to maintain stability (e.g., temperature regulation).