Download Digestive System (Human): Key Words

Digestive System (Human): Key Words
Large intestine
Liver
Stomach
Alimentary canal (or Gastrointestinal
tract or Gut) The digestive tract: a tube
starting at the mouth and ending at the
anus.
Anus The lower end of the rectum,
forming the outlet of the alimentary
canal. It is normally closed by a sphincter.
Appendix (or Vermiform appendix) A
short, wormlike tube opening into the
cecum but closed at the other end. It
contains lymphoid tissue, which is
involved in immunity.
Bile ducts Tiny tubes that carry bile (a
liver secretion) from the liver to the
duodenum.
Bowel See Large intestine.
Buccinator A cheek muscle used in
chewing.
Cecum The first part of the large
intestine, forming a blind pouch.
Colon The part of the large intestine
between the cecum and rectum. It
consists of four sections: the ascending,
transverse, and descending colons, and
the rectum.
Digestion The chemical and mechanical
breakdown of foods into simple
substances that can be absorbed by the
body.
Duodenum The upper part of the small
intestine, where most chemical digestion
takes place.
Enzymes Biological catalysts: proteins
that speed up chemical reactions without
themselves undergoing change.
Epiglottis A cartilage flap behind
the tongue that is closed during
swallowing to stop food entering the
larynx.
Esophagus (or Gullet) The muscular
tube through which food travels between
the pharynx and the stomach.
Gallbladder A pear-shaped bag where
bile is stored, below the liver.
Gastric Relating to the stomach.
Gastrointestinal tract See Alimentary
canal.
Gullet See Esophagus.
Gut See Alimentary canal.
Haustrum One of the pouches on the
outer surface of the colon (plural:
haustra).
Hepatic Relating to the liver.
Ileum The last part of the small intestine.
Jejunum The middle part of the small
intestine.
Large intestine (or Bowel) The lower
part of the alimentary canal, comprising
the cecum, colon, and rectum. It absorbs
water and eliminates body wastes as
feces.
Liver The largest organ in the body,
© Diagram Visual Information Ltd.
divided into four lobes. Its many
functions include the manufacture of bile,
a digestive juice.
Masseter A cheek muscle used to chew.
Mesentery Peritoneum (abdominal
membrane) attaching digestive and other
organs to the rear abdominal wall.
Mucous membranes The mucussecreting linings of the digestive,
respiratory, reproductive, and urinary
tracts.
Pancreas A tongue-shaped gland
located in the abdomen that produces
glucagon, insulin, and pancreatic juice.
Omentum Peritoneum (abdominal
membrane) linking the stomach to other
abdominal organs.
Palate The roof of the mouth.
Pancreatic islets (or Islets of
Langerhans) Scattered areas of the
pancreas that produce glucagon and
insulin.
Parotid glands See Salivary glands.
Peristalsis Waves of muscular
contractions that force substances, such
as food, through internal passageways.
Pharynx The throat.
Pylorus The narrow exit from the
stomach into the duodenum, closed by a
sphincter.
Rectum The last part of the colon, where
feces collect before leaving the body.
Salivary glands The lingual, parotid,
sublingual, and submandibular glands
that produce saliva.
Sigmoid colon The S-shaped final part
of the colon.
Small intestine The alimentary canal
between the stomach and large intestine,
comprising the duodenum, jejunum, and
ileum. Most digestion occurs here.
Sphincter A ring-shaped muscle that
contracts to close an orifice, such as the
pyloric sphincter and the anal sphincters.
Stomach A muscular baglike part of the
alimentary canal between the esophagus
and small intestine. It stores, churns, and
partially digests food.
Taste buds Tiny sensory organs
(circumvallate papillae, filiform papillae,
fungiform papillae) on tongue and palate.
Teeth Bonelike structures in the jaws.
Different types (incisors, canines,
premolars, molars) are specialized to
pierce, tear, crush, and/or grind food.
Tongue A mobile, muscular organ in the
mouth, involved in tasting, chewing,
swallowing, and speech.
Vermiform appendix See Appendix.
Villus A minute fingerlike projection.
Huge numbers line the small intestine,
increasing its surface area (plural: villi).