Term | Definition |
Digestion | the process of changing food products into usable substances |
Absorption | the transfer of nutrients into the blood stream |
Defecation | the elimination of indigestible materials and waste from the body |
Ingestion | the process of taking food into the digestive tract |
Propulsion | the process of moving food through the alimentary canal (swallowing) |
Chemical Digestion | the catabolic process in which large food molecules are broken down into smaller molecules by enzymatic hydrolysis |
Mechanical Digestion | the physical preparation of food for chemical digestion; chewing; mastication: the mixing of food with saliva by the tongue, churning and mixing of food in stomach, and segmentation in the intestines |
Saliva | Begins chemical digestion in the mouth |
Gingivitis | inflammation of the gums |
Pyorrhea | inflammation of tooth sockets |
Gastritis | inflammation of the lining of the stomach |
Stomatitis | inflammation of the lining of the mouth |
Hepatitis | inflammation of the liver |
Cholecystitis | inflammation of the gall bladder |
Pancreatitis | inflammation of the pancreas |
Appendicitis | inflammation of the appendix |
Cholelithiasis | the presence of stones in the gall bladder |
Cirrhosis | a chronic disease in which normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue |
Mumps | a viral infection of the salivary glands |
Flatulence | excessive amount of gas in the stomach or intestine |
Nausea | stomach distress with an urge to vomit |
Heartburn | a burning sensation in the anterior part of the stomach |
Ulcer | an area of the lining of the stomach or small intestine in which the tissues are gradually disintegrating |
Vomiting | reverse peristalsis causing ejection of the stomach contents through the mouth (throwing up) |
Constipation | abnormal delay in, or infrequent bowel movement |
Diarrhea | abnormally frequent, watery bowel movements |
Esophagus | tube connecting the pharynx and stomach |
Appendix | a small, blind tube extending from the large intestine at the junction of the small and large intestines. Its function is not understood |
Stomach | receives swallowed food, secretes gastric juices, mixes food with gastric juices, and absorbs some drugs, water, and alcohol |
Small Intestine | completes the digestion of food begun in the stomach; the end products of digestion are absorbed into the blood and lymph |
Large Intestine | absorbs water and eliminates waste products of digestion through the anus |
Liver | secretes bile and forms antibodies |
Gall Bladder | stores and concentrates bile; ejects bile into the duodenum as needed during digestion |
Mouth | The functions are speech and the reception of food and preparation of it for digestion |