 | Term | Definition |
| |
Injestion |
the process of taking in food |
| |
Physical Digestion |
the process of breaking food into smaller pieces (example: chewing) |
| |
Chemical Digestion |
the process of breaking bonds in food molecules with the use of enzymes |
| |
Absorption |
the process of cells of the digestive tract taking up the products of digestion |
| |
Peristalsis |
wavelink contraction by the smooth muscle of the digestive tract |
| |
Cardiac Sphincter |
circular muscle that protects the esophagus from the acids of the stomach |
| |
Small Intestines |
Organ where most chemical digestion and absorption takes place |
| |
Villi |
Small fingerlike projections on the walls of the small intestines that increase surface area |
| |
Large Intestines |
location of mutualistic bacteria (E. coli) that feed on waste products and produce vitamins |
| |
Liver |
Organ that produces bile |
| |
Gall Bladder |
Organ that stores bile |
| |
Pancreas |
Organ that produces insulin, enzymes and sodium bicarbonate |
| |
Insulin |
Hormone that signals the liver to pick up extra glucose in the blood stream |
| |
Glucagon |
Hormone that signals the liver to release glucose into the blood stream |
| |
Amylase |
Enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates |
| |
Pepsin |
Enzyme that breaks down proteins in the stomach |
| |
Egestion |
(aka - Elimination) the release of undigestible food material |
| |
Pyloric Sphincter |
circular muscle that controls the movement of chyme from the stomach to the small intestines |
