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May 22, 2013


Anatomy of the Digestive System Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Anatomy of the Digestive System article.

Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

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Absorb: 1. To take something in, as through the skin or the intestine.
2....

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Absorption: Uptake. For example, intestinal absorption is the uptake of food (or other sub...

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Alimentary: Concerning food, nourishment, and the organs of digestion. From the Latin alim...

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Alimentary canal: The digestive tract. See: Gastrointestinal tract.

Amylase: An enzyme produced in the pancreas and salivary glands that helps in the digestio...

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Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

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Anus: The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body.

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

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Bile: Bile is a yellow-green fluid that is made by the liver, stored in the gallbladder a...

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Bladder: A hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The kidneys filter waste f...

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Bowel: The small and large intestine.

Carbohydrates: Mainly sugars and starches, together constituting one of the three principa...

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Cardiac: Having to do with the heart.

Cecum: The first portion of the large bowel, which is situated in the lower-right quadrant...

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Chyme: A predigested, acidified mass of food that passes from the stomach into the small i...

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Colon: The long, coiled, tubelike organ that removes water from digested food. The remaini...

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Colonoscopy: A procedure whereby a physician inserts a viewing tube (colonoscope) into the...

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Digestive system: The system of organs responsible for getting food into and out of the bo...

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Drain: A device for removing fluid from a cavity or wound. A drain is typically a tube or ...

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Duodenum: The first part of the small intestine. The duodenum is a common site for peptic ...

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Endoscopy: Examination of the inside of the body by using a lighted, flexible instrument c...

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Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a livi...

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Enzymes: Proteins that act as a catalysts in mediating and speeding a specific chemical re...

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Epiglottis: The flap that covers the trachea during swallowing, so that food does not ente...

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Esophagus: The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach. The esophagus lie...

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Fats: Plural of the word "fat". See the definition of fat.

Feces: The excrement discharged from the 'intestines.

Gallbladder: A pear-shaped organ located below the liver that stores the bile secreted by ...

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Gastric: Having to do with the stomach.

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Ileum: Part of the small intestine beyond the jejunum and before the large intestine (colo...

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Intestine: The long, tubelike organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion...

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Jaw: The movable junction of the bones below the mouth (the mandible) and the bone just ab...

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Jejunum: Part of the small intestine. It is half-way down the small intestine between its...

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Large intestine: Comes after the small intestine. Large because it is wider than the smal...

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Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

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Malabsorption: Poor intestinal absorption of nutrients. Malabsorption can occur from disea...

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Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

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Muscular: Having to do with the muscles. Also, endowed with above average muscle developme...

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Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func...

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Pancreas: A spongy, tube-shaped organ that is about 6 inches long and is located in the ba...

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Peristalsis: The rippling motion of muscles in the digestive tract. In the stomach, this m...

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Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific orde...

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Rectum: The last 6 to 8 inches of the large intestine. The rectum stores solid waste until...

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Saliva: a watery secretion in the mouth produced by the salivary glands that aids in the d...

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Small intestine: The part of the digestive tract that extends from the stomach to the larg...

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Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

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Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

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Tongue: A strong muscle that is anchored to the floor of the mouth. The tongue is covered ...

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Trachea: A tube-like portion of the respiratory tract that connects the larynx with the br...

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Villi: Plural of villus, a tiny finger-like or vascular projection.

Windpipe: The trachea, a tube-like portion of the respiratory (breathing) tract that conn...

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