Digestive System Vocabulary Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is digestion?
The body process of breaking down foods chemically and mechanically.
What is the alimentary canal?
A continuous, coiled, hollow, muscular tube that is winding through the ventral body cavity and opens at both ends. It contains the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum, and anus.
What is a lumen?
The cavity of an organ.
What is peristalsis?
The waves of contraction seen in tube-like organs, it propels substances along the tract.
What is the frenulum?
A small fold of mucous membrane that connects two structures, often helping to stabilize or restrict the movement of an organ.
What are papillae?
The small, raised bumps on the tongue and other areas like the palate that provide a rough surface to aid in food manipulation and taste sensation.
What is the palate?
The roof of the mouth.
What is the uvula?
Fleshy, finger-like projection of the soft palate. This extends inferiority from the posterior edge of the soft palate.
What are palatine tonsils?
Paired masses of the lymphatic tissue at the end of the oral cavity.
What are the incisors?
Front teeth, specifically designed for biting and cutting food in the digestive process.
What are the cuspids?
A pointed tooth used for tearing and shredding food.
What are the molars?
The large, flat teeth located at the back of the mouth that are primarily used for grinding and chewing food.
What is a bolus?
A ball-shaped mass of food that is ready to be swallowed.
What is amylase?
An enzyme in the digestive system that breaks down complex carbohydrates, specifically starch, into simpler sugars like glucose.
What is the nasopharynx?
A part of the respiratory passageway.
What is the oropharynx?
Something that is posterior to the oral cavity.
What is the laryngopharynx?
Something that is continuous with the esophagus.
