| A | B |
|---|
| digestive system | organ system which digests food so that it can be used by the body |
| digestive tract | series of tubelike organs through which food passes |
| mechanical digestion | the breaking, tearing and mashing of food; occurs in the mouth and stomach |
| chemical digestion | large molecules are broken down into nutrients (usable portions of food) |
| enzymes | substances which break down some nutrients into smaller particles that the body can use |
| amino acids | smaller molecules which make up proteins |
| teeth | rip, tear and chew food into smaller pieces to aid in swallowing |
| esophagus | a long straight tube which connects the mouth to the stomach; uses peristalsis to move food along |
| saliva | liquid made in the salivary glands; contains an enzyme which begins chemical digestion |
| peristalsis | rhythmic muscle contractions |
| stomach | muscular, saclike organ attached to the lower end of the esophagus; chemical and mechanical digestion occur here |
| chyme | soupy mixture which digested food is converted into in the stomach |
| epiglottis | tiny flap which opens and closes over the trachea to prevent choking |
| pancreas | oval organ located between the stomach and small intestine; secretes pancreatic juice into the small intestine to neutralize the acid from the stomach and digest all types of food |
| small intestine | all digestion is completed here; nutrients are absorbed by hairlike villi into the bloodstream |
| liver | large organ which makes bile, stores nutrients and breaks down toxins |
| bile | substance which breaks up fat; stored in the gall bladder |
| gall bladder | small saclike organ which stores bile |
| large intestine | absorbs water and vitamins made by bacteria; stores and releases waste |
| feces | semisolid waste materials |
| rectum | end of the small intestine; stores wastes until they can be expelled |
| anus | opening through which feces pass to the outside of the body |
| mouth | allows food to enter the body; contains teeth and tongue; carbohydrate digestion begins here due to enzymes in saliva |
| tongue | tastes food, mixes food with saliva, pushes food between teeth to help in swallowing |
| salivary glands | secrete saliva into the mouth to begin carbohydrate digestion and moisten food |
| palate | the "roof" of your mouth; tongue pushes against it to aid in swallowing; separates the mouth and nasal cavities |
| pharynx | where mouth and nasal passages meet; leads to the trachea and esophagus |
| nutrients | the usable portions of food |
| duodenum | the first third of the small intestine; digestion is completed here |
| fats | broken down into fatty acids and glycerol |
| proteins | are broken down into amino acids |
| carbohydrates | broken down into simple sugars |
| the six nutrients | protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, water |
