Anatomy — Digestive System

esophagus

a muscular tube in chest that food flows down

fat

a nutrient that supplies energy, forms cells, maintains body temperature, and protects nerves

cecum

a pouch at the beginning of the large intestine that joins the small intestine to the large intestine

sphincter

a ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening

Mineral

a simple element that is not organic and that is needed by the body.

appendix

a small, hollow, finger-like pouch, hangs at the end of the cecum. It no longer appears to be useful to the digestive process.

colon

absorbs fluids (water) and salts

amylase

an enzyme found in saliva starts to breaks down some of the carbohydrates before leaving the mouth

fiber

complex carbohydrate that is found in plants and is necessary for the proper functioning of the digestive system. Helps to form faeces.

pancreatic amylase

enzyme from pancreas that breaks down starch

lipase

enzyme that breaks down lipids

trypsin, pepsin, peptidase

enzymes that break down proteins

sucrase, amylase, maltase, lactase

enzymes that break down sugars (carbohydrates)

colon

extends from the cecum up the right side of the abdomen, across the upper abdomen, and then down the left side of the abdomen, finally connecting to the rectum. Bacteria here helps digest the remaining food products.

duodenum

first part of small intestine, most digestion takes place, chemicals released from liver, gall bladder, and pancreas

villi

folds in small intestine that make larger area for food absorption into the blood

Lips, Cheeks and Tongue

form a bolus or ball of food.

Pancreas

makes many enzymes to break down food in the small intestine.

jejunum

middle portion of small intestine where chemical digestion ends and absorption begins

digestion

process by which food is broken down food into molecules

absorption

process by which nutrients pass through the lining of the digestive system

large intestine

removes water from the undigested matter and form solid waste that can be excreted.

amino acid

small unit that are bound together to form proteins

Large Intestine

two of its functions are to reabsorb water and produce vitamin K.

Pyloric sphincter

Opens to allow the food to enter the small intestine.

Stomach

The chemical action there breaks the food down further and churns into a semifluid mass called acid chyme.

the anus

The feces, or remaining waste, pass out through it.

Epiglottis

The flap of tissue that seals off the windpipe and prevents food from entering.

Saliva

The fluid released when the mouth waters that plays an important role in both mechanical and chemical digestion.

Liver

The largest and heaviest organ inside the body; it breaks down substances and eliminates nitrogen from the body.

Large intestine

The last section of the digestive system where water is absorbed from food and the remaining material is eliminated from the body.

Esophagus

The muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

Anus

The opening at the end of the digestive system through which wastes are eliminated.

Gallbladder

The organ that stores bile after it is produced by the liver.

Small intestine

The part of the digestive system in which most chemical digestion takes place

Absorption

The process by which nutrient molecules pass through the wall of the digestive system into the blood.

Digestion

The process by which the body breaks down complex molecules of food into small nutrient molecules.

Teeth and Saliva

They begin digestion by breaking food down into smaller pieces and lubricating it to allow swallowing.

Villi

Tiny finger-shaped structures that cover the inner surface of the small intestine and that provide a large surface area through which digested food is absorbed.

Stomach

A J-shaped, muscular pouch located in the abdomen that expands to hold all of the food that is swallowed.

Fiber

A complex carbohydrate found in plant foods that cannot be broken down into sugar molecules by the body. It cannot be digested.

Saturated fat

A fat, such as butter, that is usually solid at room temperature

Unsaturated fat

A fat, such as olive oil, that is usually liquid at room temperature

Fat

A high-energy nutrient that is composed of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen and contains more than twice as much energy as an equal amount of carbohydrate.

Protein

A large organic molecule made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur that is used for tissue growth and repair; plays an important role in the chemical reactions of cells

Vitamin

A molecule that acts as a helper in a variety of chemical reactions within the body.

Enzyme

A protein that speeds up chemical reactions in living things.

Rectum

A short section at the end of the large intestine where waste material is compressed into a solid form before being eliminated.

rectum

A short tube at the end of the large intestine where waste material is compressed into a solid form before being eliminated

Nutrient

A substance in food that provides energy, or a raw material that the body needs in order to carry out its life processes.

Bile

A substance produced by the liver that helps in the breaking up of fat particles.

Glucose

A sugar that is the major source of energy for the body's cells. It is a monosaccharide (C6H12O6).

Mucus

A thick, slippery substance produced by the body, usually to protect surfaces.

Pancreas

A triangular organ that produces enzymes that flow into the small intestine

Cholesterol

A waxy, fatlike substance found only in animal products that is an important part of the body's cells; can build up on artery walls.

Carbohydrate

An energy-rich organic compound, such as a sugar or starch, that is made of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Large Intestine

Any food left over after the trip through the small intestine enters here.

Peristalsis

Involuntary waves of muscle contraction that keep food moving along in one direction through the digestive system

Small Intestine

Its large surface area, resulting from its length and protrusions called villi and microvilli, allow for a great absorptive surface into the bloodstream.

Small Intestine

Most nutrient absorption occurs here.

Duodenum

Neutralization of the chyme after arrival from the acidic stomach allows the local enzymes to function.

Amino acids

Small units that are linked together chemically to form large protein molecules.

Calorie

The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.

kidney

an organ that filters waste from the blood and produces urine

ileum

last part of small intestine, absorbs enzymes and anything left over by jejunum

Liver

makes bile, which breaks down and emulsifies fatty acids.

vitamin

nutrient made by living things, required in small amounts, assists in chemical reactions in the body

Stomach

pepsinogen and hydrochloric acid form pepsin, the enzyme that hydrolyzes proteins.

ingestion

the process of taking food into the body through the mouth (as by eating)

egestion

the removal of waste food materials from the body

chyme

thick mixture of food and gastric juices formed in the stomach

feces

waste product, mostly cellulose, E. coli, water, and bilirubin

Peristalsis

wave-like contractions that carry the food down the alimentary canal