Organs and Anatomy
The 25-foot muscular tube where most chemical digestion takes place
What is the small intestine?
The highly acidic fluid produced by the stomach to break down food.
What is gastric juice (or hydrochloric acid)?
The process of chewing food to break it into smaller pieces
What is mastication (or mechanical digestion)?
: Tiny, finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for absorption.
What are villi?
A painful sensation caused by stomach acid backing up into the esophagus.
What is heartburn (or acid reflux)?
This organ produces bile but does not store it.
What is the liver?
The enzyme found in saliva that begins the chemical breakdown of starches.
What is salivary amylase?
Wave-like muscle contractions that push food down the digestive tract.
What is peristalsis?
The primary organ responsible for absorbing water and compacting waste.
What is the large intestine (or colon)?
An autoimmune disorder where eating gluten damages the small intestine villi.
What is Celiac disease?
A muscular ring that controls the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine.
What is the pyloric sphincter?
The substance produced by the liver that emulsifies fats.
What is bile?
The ball of chewed food mixed with saliva that is swallowed.
What is a bolus?
The simple sugar that carbohydrates are broken down into before absorption.
What is glucose?
Open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach or duodenum.
What are peptic ulcers?
The vestigial, pouch-like structure attached to the cecum of the large intestine.
What is the appendix
The stomach enzyme that specifically breaks proteins down into peptides
What is pepsin?
The creamy, semifluid mixture of partially digested food and gastric juices.
What is chyme?
These large molecules are broken down into amino acids before entering the bloodstream
What are proteins?
Inflammation of the small pouches that can form in the walls of the intestines.
What is diverticulitis?
The three specific sections of the small intestine, in order from stomach to large intestine.
What are the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum?
The hormone triggered by food entry that signals the stomach to secrete acid.
What is gastrin?
Rhythmic local contractions of the small intestine that mix chyme with digestive juices
What is segmentation?
Lymph vessels inside intestinal villi that specifically absorb digested fats.
What are lacteals?
A condition resulting from a lack of the enzyme needed to digest milk sugars.
What is lactose intolerance?