gastroenterology
is and elongated body system that begins at the mouth, continues through the thoracic cavity, and fills much if the abdominpelvic cavity.
tract
a continuing pathway
Digestive
describes the purpose of system
Ailmentary
refers to food and nourishment
Canal
a tubular channel
Oral cavity
contains the teeth, gums, tongue, and palate. Food passes from the oral cavity into the pharynx (throat) and then into the esophegus
Gustatory cortex
sense of taste
Saliva
a lubricant that moistens food as it is chewed and swallowed
mastication
process of teeth tearing, chewing and grinding food
deglutition
swallowing; moves food into the throat or pharynx
pharynx
a passageway for food as well as for inhaled and exhaled air
parotid glands
large, flat and are on either side of the head in front of the ear
sublingual glands
under the tongue
submandibular glands
under the mandible (lower jaw bone)
esophagus
a flexible, muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach
peristalsis
a process in which the esophagus moves food toward the stomach
stomach
large, elongated sac in the upper abdominal cavity
cardia, fundus, body, pylorus
4 regions of the stomach
lower esophageal sphincter
located at the distal end of the esophagus
pyloric sphincter
located at the distal end of the stomach
chyme
a semisolid mixture of partially digested food, saliva, digestive enzymes, and fluids in the stomach
small intestine or bowel
long, hollow tube that receives chyme from the stomach
duodenum
a 10 inch, C shaped segment that begins at the stomach and ends at the jejunum
jejunum
the second part of the small intestine, an 8 foot segment that repeatedly twists and turns in the abdominal cavity
ileum
12 foot segment where absorption of nutrients is completed
villi
thousands of small, thin structures
lumen
central open area
large intestine
larger, hollow tube that receives undigested material and some water from the small intestine
appendix
a thin tube that is closed at the distal end of large bowel
haustra
puckered pouch that greatly expands as needed
colon
longest part of the large intestine
ascending colon
near the liver, bends in a right angle at the hepatic flexure
transverse colon
near spleen, bends in a right angle at the splenic flexure
sigmoid colon
bends toward the midline in an S-shaped curve that joins the rectum
rectum
a short, straight segment that connects to the outside of the body.
anus
the external opening of the rectum, located between buttocks
abdominopelvic cavity
contains largest organs (viscera) of the gastrointestinal system.
peritoneum
a double-layer serous membrane
peritoneal fluid
watery fluid that fills the spaces between the organs and allows them to slide past each other during movements of digestion
omentum
supports the stomach and hangs down as a fatty apron to cover and protect the small intestine
mesentery
a thick, fan-shaped sheet that supports the jejunum and ileum
celiac trunk
abdominal aorta, supplies blood to the stomach, small intestine, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas
accessories of the organs of digestion
liver, gallbladder, and pancreas
liver
a large, dark red-brown organ, is located in the upper abdomen
bile
yellow-green, bitter tasting, thick fluid
billirubin
yellow pigment bile
billiverdin
green pigment bile
bile ducts
known as biliary trees
gallbladder
a tear-drop shaped, dark green sac posterior to the liver
pancreas
a yellow, somewhat lumpy gland shaped like an elongated triangle
digestion
process of breaking down food; begins in oral cavity
two parts of digestion
mechanical and chemical
enzymes
breaks down food
amylase
continues the digestion of carbohydrates that was begun by saliva. Breaks down carbohydrates and starches into sugar and food fibers
lipase
breaks down small fat globules into fatty acids
absorption
to absorb; take in
defecation
process of elimination in the bowel
emulsification
process of bile breaking apart large globules of fat
pepsin
a digestive enzyme that breaks down protein foods into large protein molecules