Module 11

This muscular tube connects the pharynx to the stomach

Esophagus

Weakness of this structure is one of the causes of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal sphincter

What is the chemical that refluxes into the esophagus, causing the burning pain of GERD

Hydrochloric acid (HCI)

What feature of the small intestine greatly expands its surface area, facilitating absorption

Microvilli

Which accessory organ of the GI system secretes enzymes that break down fats and carbohydrates

Pancreas

Repeated, wavelike smooth muscle contractions in the GI tract that move food through the tract are called

Peristalsis

The wall of the gut tube has layers of smooth muscle that run both circularly and longitudinally. The contraction of these muscles produces

Peristalsis

The individual epithelial cells that line this organ have a brush of microvilli to increase the surface area and absorptive capacity

Small intestine

This organ hosts an extremely acidic environment which is needed to break down food into small particles

Stomach

GERD

When stomach acids pass through GI tract

Which cells are found in the gastric pits

Chief cell, parietal cell, goblet cell