digestive system

Digestive system Main job is to break down food, absorb nutrients, and remove waste.

Ingestion Taking food into the mouth.

Digestion Breaking food down into smaller parts.

Absorption Moving nutrients into the blood.

Defecation Removing solid waste from the body.

Food pathway Mouth → Pharynx → Esophagus → Stomach → Small intestine → Large intestine → Rectum → Anus.

Mouth Where food enters and chewing begins.

Pharynx Throat area that helps move food toward the esophagus.

Esophagus Tube that moves food to the stomach using wave-like contractions.

Peristalsis Wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

Stomach Stores and mixes food with acid and enzymes.

Small intestine Where most nutrient absorption happens.

Large intestine Absorbs water and electrolytes and forms feces.

Rectum Stores feces before they leave the body.

Anus Opening where waste leaves the body.

Mechanical digestion Physical breakdown of food by chewing and churning.

Chemical digestion Breaking food down using enzymes and acids.

Liver Produces bile and processes nutrients, medications, and toxins.

Gallbladder Stores and concentrates bile and releases it into the small intestine.

Pancreas Releases digestive enzymes and bicarbonate into the small intestine.

Bile Helps digest fats.

Bicarbonate Helps neutralize stomach acid in the small intestine.

Drug metabolism The process of breaking down medications and other chemicals, mainly done by the liver.

Liver location Upper right side of the abdomen.

Calorie A unit of energy.

Carbohydrates Provide 4 calories per gram.

Protein Provides 4 calories per gram.

Fat Provides 9 calories per gram and is the most energy-dense nutrient.

Vitamins Help regulate body processes and do not provide significant calories.

Minerals Help regulate body processes and do not provide significant calories.

Healthy fat intake About 20–35% of daily calories.

High blood pressure A condition often managed by reducing sodium in the diet.

Anorexia nervosa Severe food restriction and fear of gaining weight.

Bulimia nervosa Binge eating followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain.

GERD Stomach contents flow back into the esophagus and can cause heartburn.

Heartburn Burning feeling caused by stomach acid moving into the esophagus.

Appendicitis Inflammation of the appendix.

Appendicitis pain Often starts near the belly button and moves to the lower right abdomen.

Sleep for adults Adults generally need about 7–9 hours of sleep.

Gastr/o Stomach.

Enter/o Intestine.

Hepat/o Liver.

Cholecyst/o Gallbladder.

Pancreat/o Pancreas.

Esophag/o Esophagus.

Proct/o Rectum or anus.

-itis Inflammation.

-algia Pain.

-osis Abnormal condition.

-emia Blood condition.