Digestive Vocab

Question 1

Alimentary Canal (or GI Tract)

Answer 1

An irregular tube that opens at both ends.

Question 2

Emulsify

Answer 2

Mechanically breaks up fats

Question 3

Peritoneum

Answer 3

Serous membrane lining abdominal cavity & covering most organs in abdominal cavity.

Question 4

Mesentary

Answer 4

A continuous set of tissues located in your abdomen.

Question 5

Digestion

Answer 5

Changing foods so that they can be absorbed & used by cells.

Question 6

Mechanical Digestion

Answer 6

Chewing, swallowing, & peristalsis break food into tiny particles, mix them well with digestive juices, & move them along the digestive tract.

Question 7

Deglutination

Answer 7

The process of swallowing.

Question 8

Chemical Digestion

Answer 8

Breaks up large food molecules into compounds having smaller molecules; brought about by digestive enzymes.

Question 9

Absorption

Answer 9

Diffusion of particles of gas or liquid or solid materials.

Question 10

Feces

Answer 10

Poop, discharge of unwanted eaten materials.

Question 11

Lumen

Answer 11

Hollow space within the “tube” of the digestive system.

Question 12

Peristalsis

Answer 12

Wave like involuntary contraction, starts at the esophagus.

Question 13

Oral Cavity (or Mouth)

Answer 13

Hallow chamber with a roof, floor and walls.

Question 14

Hard Palate

Answer 14

A boney structure in the front of mouth separating the nasal cavity.

Question 15

Soft Palate

Answer 15

A muscular structure with a moveable mucous membrane and is located in the rear of the mouth.

Question 16

Uvula

Answer 16

A cone shaped process hanging from the center of the soft palate, it prevents thing from entering the nasal cavity, and helps with speech and swallowing..

Question 17

Mastication

Answer 17

Chewing

Question 18

Bolus

Answer 18

Small round mass of food that is ready to be swallowed.

Question 19

Saliva

Answer 19

Contains salivary amylase.

Question 20

Salivary Amylase

Answer 20

Begins digestion, washes mouth, neutralizes mouth acids.

Question 21

Pharynx

Answer 21

Muscular tube, lined with mucous membranes.

Question 22

Esophagus

Answer 22

Food chute, connects pharynx to stomach

Question 23

Stomach

Answer 23

Located in the upper part of the abdominal cavity just under the diaphragm.

Question 24

Chyme

Answer 24

Pulpy acidic fluid that passes from the stomach to the small intestine, consisting of gastric juices and partly digested food.

Question 25

Rugae

Answer 25

When the stomach is empty, wrinkled fold.

Question 26

Plicae

Answer 26

The inner wall of the small intestine

In circular folds

Question 27

Villi

Answer 27

Microscopic finger-shaped projections from the surface of mucosa into intestinal cavity.

Question 28

Bile

Answer 28

Not an enzyme, helps digest fats in small intestines, produced by liver, stores in gallbladder