Digestive System Flashcards

Ingestion of food, breakdown into nutrient molecules, absorption into the bloodstream, and elimination of indigestible remains

A continuous muscular tube from the mouth to the anus that digests and absorbs food

Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus

Teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas

The act of taking food into the digestive tract

Movement of food through the alimentary canal

Alternating waves of contraction and relaxation that move food forward

Local constriction of the intestine that mixes food with digestive juices

Physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces

Enzymatic breakdown of complex molecules into simpler building blocks

Passage of digested nutrients into blood or lymph

Elimination of indigestible substances as feces

A serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering digestive organs

The peritoneum covering the external surface of organs

The peritoneum lining the abdominal body wall

A double layer of peritoneum that holds digestive organs in place and carries vessels and nerves

Inflammation of the peritoneum that can be life-threatening

Mucosa, submucosa, muscularis externa, and serosa

Secretion, absorption, and protection

Mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue that protects against microorganisms

Responsible for segmentation and peristalsis

The intrinsic “gut brain” that regulates digestive activity

Lips anteriorly, cheeks laterally, palate superiorly, and tongue inferiorly

Manipulates food, initiates swallowing, and aids in taste and speech

A congenital condition with a short lingual frenulum restricting tongue movement

Projections of the tongue mucosa that provide friction and may contain taste buds

Filiform papillae

Cleanses the mouth, moistens food, dissolves chemicals for taste, and begins starch digestion

Salivary amylase

Parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands

Chewing that mechanically breaks down food

The first set of 20 “milk teeth”

The adult set of 32 teeth

Cutting food

Tearing or piercing food

Grinding and crushing food

The visible portion above the gum covered by enamel

A bonelike material beneath enamel surrounding the pulp cavity

The inner chamber containing connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves

The process of swallowing

Prevents stomach contents from refluxing into the esophagus

Burning sensation caused by stomach acid entering the esophagus

Paste-like mixture of partially digested food and gastric juices in the stomach

Folds in the stomach lining that allow expansion

Hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor

Pepsinogen

A substance required for vitamin B₁₂ absorption in the small intestine

The mucosal barrier of mucus, tight junctions, and rapid cell replacement

A digestive fluid that emulsifies fats

In the liver

Stores and concentrates bile

An alkaline fluid containing digestive enzymes that neutralizes stomach acid

Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum

Fingerlike projections that increase surface area for absorption

Microscopic projections on epithelial cells that further increase absorption

Absorption of water and propulsion of feces

A lymphoid tissue pouch off the cecum that can become inflamed

Three bands of longitudinal smooth muscle unique to the large intestine

Pouchlike segments formed by contractions of the large intestine

Some B-complex vitamins and vitamin K

Frequent watery stools due to reduced water absorption

Hard stools caused by excessive water absorption in the colon

After it is chewed and mixed with saliva before swallowing

The mesentery

Macrophages in liver sinusoids that remove debris and old red blood cells

Blood flow from digestive organs to the liver for nutrient processing

The bile duct and pancreatic duct that join at the hepatopancreatic ampulla