| Term | Definition |
|---|
| digestion | The breaking down of food and liquids into simpler forms that the body can use (or eliminate). |
| absorption | The transfer of nutrients and water from the digestive tract into the blood stream. |
| incisors | Teeth between the canines that are used for cutting. |
| canines | Teeth in front of the premolars that rip and tear food. |
| premolars | Teeth in front of the molars for shearing food. |
| molars | Teeth toward the back of the mouth for grinding food. |
| enamel | The hard calcium covering over a tooth. |
| parotid gland | One of the salivary glands behind the ear. |
| sublingual gland | One of the salivary glands underneath the tongue. |
| submandibular gland | One of the salivary glands underneath the jaw. |
| saliva | The liquid secreted in the mouth to begin digestion, consisting of water, proteins (including mucin), and enzymes. |
| salivary gland | A gland the produces saliva and secretes it into the mouth. |
| esophagus | The tube that brings food from the pharynx to the stomach. |
| duodenum | The first part of the small intestine, connecting the stomach to the jejunum. |
| stomach | The main digestive organ, in which food is stored and digestion begins. |
| small intestine | The 22 foot-long part of the digestive tract where most digestion and absorption takes place; it consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and the ileum. |
| liver | An organ below the lungs with several functions, including the production of a chemical called bile that aids digestion. |
| pancreas | A large gland below the stomach that produces the hormones insulin and glucagon, which are used for energy metabolism. |
| gallbladder | The small storage sac that holds bile from the liver until it is needed. |
| bile | A greenish-yellow fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, that helps the fat digestion in the small intestine. |
| jejunum | The long, coiling part of the small intestine that digests food and absorbs nutrients. |
| ileum | The end of the small intestine that connects it to the large intestine. |
| large intestine | The thick, 5 foot-long section of the digestive tract where water is absorbed and feces are stored. (aka 'colon') |
| rectum | The end of the large intestine. |
| alimentary canal | The pathway from the mouth to the anus which moves food and waste product into and out of the body. |
| bolus | A soft, wet ball of chewed food. |
| amylase | An enzyme that breaks complex sugars (like starch) into simple sugar (like glucose). |
| peristalsis | The repeated waves of smooth muscle contraction that move items (like food or waste) through a tube. |
| gastric juices | The acidic fluids secreted by the stomach that begin digestion. |
| pepsin | An enzyme that digests protein. |
| mucus | A thick, protective substance produced by the nose, throat, stomach and other organs that coat and trap foreign particles so they can be removed from the body. |
| coenzymes | Non-enzyme molecules (such as vitamins) used to activate enzymes. |
| emulsification | The process by which big clumps of fat are separated into smaller, easier to digest droplets. |
| lactase | An enzyme that digests lactose into simple sugars. |
| lipase | An enzyme that digests fats into fatty acids. |
| maltase | An enzyme that digests maltose into simple sugars. |
| peptidase | An enzyme that digests complex proteins into simpler proteins and amino acids. |
| sucrase | An enzyme that digests sucrose into simple sugars. |
| trypsin | An enzyme that digests complex proteins into simpler proteins and also catalyzes other enzymes. |
| cellulase | An enzyme in some microorganisms that breaks down cellulose; it is not found in most mammals. |
| osmosis | The diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane. |
| isotonic | Having the same concentration of solutes as another solution. |
| hypotonic | Having a lower concentration of solutes than another solution. |
| hypertonic | Having a higher concentration of solutes than another solution. |
| osmoreceptors | The sensors in the hypothalamus that create the thirst sensation. |
| kidneys | The two organs under the ribs that filter waste out of the blood as urine. |
| urinary bladder | The sac where urine is stored. |
| ureter | One of the two tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. |
| renal | Relating to the kidney. |
| renal pyramids | The structures in the kidney where blood filtration takes place. |
| nephron | A structure in a renal pyramid of the kidney that filters blood. |
| ADH | Antidiuretic hormone; it reduces water removal by the kidney (thereby increasing blood pressure). |
| ANP | Atrial natriuertic peptide, increases water and sodium removal by the kidney (to decrease blood pressure). |
| kidney stone | A hard, painful mass of calcium salts that forms in the kidney. |
| kidney disease | Abnormal or reduced function of a kidney. |
| kidney failure | Total cessation of function of a kidney. |
| dialysis | A medical procedure in which a machine is used to filter the blood, once the kidneys have become unable to filter all the blood on their own. |
| incontinence | The inability to control urination. |
| urinary tract infections | Bacterial infections of the urinary tract, often in the urinary bladder, sometimes caused by kidney disease or stones. |
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