VOCABULARY
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Absorption: Passage of materials through the walls of
the intestine into the blood stream.
Alimentary canal: The digestive tract (canal): aliment means
food.
Amino acids: Small substances that are the building bl=
ocks
of proteins and are produced when proteins are digested.
Amylase: Enzyme (-ase =3Denzyme) from the pancreas to digest star=
ch
(amyl=3Dstarch).
Anus: Opening of the digestive tract to the outside of the
body.
Appendix: Blind pouch hanging from the first part of
the colon (cecum). It literally means hanging (=
pend/o) on (ap-). Usually=
found
in the RLQ.
Bile: Digestive juice made in the liver and sto=
red
in the gallbladder. It physically breaks up (emulsifies=
)
large fat globules. Bile was originally called gall (Latin bilis
meaning gall or anger), probably because it has a bitter taste. It is compo=
sed
of bile pigments, cholesterol, and bile salts.
Bilirubin: Pigment released by the liver in bile;
produced from the incisors also called cuspids =
or
eyeteeth.
Bowel: Intestine.
Canine teeth: Pointed, dog-like (canine) teeth, next to
(distal to) the incisors also called cuspids or
eyeteeth.
Cecum: First part of the large intestine.
Common bile duct: Carries bile from the liver and gallblad=
der
to the duodenum.
Deglutition: Swallowing.
Dentin: Major tissue composing teeth, covered by=
the
enamel in the crown and a protective layer of cementum in the root.
Digestion: Breakdown of the small intestine. Duo=3D=
2,
fen=3D10; the duodenum measures 12 inches in length.
Emulsification: Physical process of breaking up large fat
globules into smaller globules, thus increasing the surface area that enzym=
es
can use to digest the fat.
Enamel: Hard, outermost layer of a tooth.
Enzyme: A chemical that speeds up a reaction bet=
ween
substances. Digestive enzymes help in the breakdown of complex foods to sim=
pler
foods.
Esophagus: Tube connecting the throat to the stomach=
.
Fatty acids: Substances produced when fats are digest=
ed.
Feces: Solid waste stools.
Gallbladder: Small sac under the liver; stores bile.
Glucose: Simple sugar.
Glycogen: Animal starch; glucose is stored in the f=
orm
of glycogen in liver cells.
Hepatic portal system: Capillaries (small blood vessels) =
that
carry blood from the digestive tract to the liver.
Hydrochloric acid: Substance produced by the stomach;
necessary for digestion of food.
Ileum: Third part of the small intestine; from =
the
Greek eilos meaning twisted. When the abdomen w=
as
viewed a necropsy (autopsy), the intestine appeared twisted and the ileum w=
as
often an area of obstruction.
Incisor: One of four front teeth in the dental arc=
h.
Insulin: Hormone produced by the endocrine cells =
of
the pancreas. It transports sugar into cells from the blood and stimulates
glycogen formation by the liver.
Jejunum: Second part of the small intestine. The L=
atin
jejunus means empty this part of the intestine =
was
always empty when a body was examined after death.
Lipase: Pancreatic enzyme necessary to digest fa=
ts.
Liver: A large organ located in the RUQ of the
abdomen. The liver secretes bile; stores sugar, iron, and vitamins; produces
blood proteins; and destroys worn out red blood cells. The normal adult liv=
er
weighs about 21/2-3 pounds.
Mastication: Chewing.
Palate: Roof of the mouth. The hard palate is
anterior to the soft palate.
Pancreas: Organ under the stomach; produces insuli=
n (for
transport of sugar into cells) and enzymes (for digestion of foods).
Papillae (singular: papilla): Small elevation=
s on
the tongue. A papilla is any nipple-like elevation.
Parotid gland: Salivary gland near the ear.
Peristalsis: Rhythm-like contractions of the tubes of=
the
alimentary tract and other tubular structures.
Pharynx: Throat the common passageway for food from
the mouth and air from the nose.
Pulp: Soft tissue within a tooth containing ner=
ves
and blood vessels.
Pyloric sphincter: Ring of muscle at the hard palate and wa=
ll
of the stomach.
Rectum: End of the colon.
Rugae: Ridges on the hard palate and wall of the
stomach.
Saliva: Digestive juice produced by salivary gla=
nds.
Salivary glands: Parotid, sublingual, and submandibular
glands.
Sigmoid colon: Lower part of the colon; shaped like an =
S.
Sphincter: Ring of muscles within a tube. Ph sounds like f.
Stomach: Muscular organ that receives composed of
three molecules of fatty acids with one molecule of glycerol.
Triglycerides: Large fat molecules composed of three
molecules of fatty acids with one molecule of glycerol.
Uvula: Soft tissue hanging from the palate in the
mouth.
Villi (singular: villus): Tiny microscopic
projections in the walls of the small intestine to absorb nutrients into the
bloodstream.