Digestive System Flashcards

Absorption and Metabolism

• Absorption is the process through which nutrients enter the bloodstream.
• Anabolism refers to the constructive phase of metabolism where body tissues are built up.
• Catabolism describes the breakdown of complex substances into simpler elements.

Nutrient Breakdown

• Amylase is an enzyme essential for breaking down starch into simpler sugars.
• Chyle is a milky fluid formed from intestinal digestion, consisting of lymph and emulsified fats.

Digestive System Conditions

• Anorexia signifies a lack of appetite, which can affect nutrient intake.
• Appendicitis is characterized by inflammation of the appendix and may require surgical intervention (appendectomy).
• Ascites is the significant accumulation of serous fluid within the peritoneal cavity.
• Circumstances leading to conditions like colon cancer (malignancy of the colon) can arise from various risk factors.

Surgical Procedures

• Appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix.
• Cholecystectomy involves the surgical excision of the gallbladder, often due to cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation).
• Choledochotomy is a surgical incision made in the common bile duct.
• Colectomy refers to the surgical removal of part of the colon.
• Colostomy involves creating a new opening in the colon.

Gastrointestinal Examination

• A colonoscope is used for direct visual examination of the colon.
• Colonoscopy is the procedure that employs a colonoscope for visual examination.

Oral and Digestive Health

• Cheilosis indicates an abnormal condition of the lips related to deficiencies in riboflavin and other B-complex vitamins.
• Black hairy tongue results from hairlike papillae entangled with fungal threads from Aspergillus niger or Candida albicans.

General Terms

• Bowel refers to the intestine as a whole.
• Buccal pertains to the cheek area in medical terminology.
• Deglutition is the act of swallowing, integral to the digestive process.
• Defecation is the process of evacuating the bowel, crucial for waste removal.
• Dentalgia is the medical term for toothache, addressing oral health concerns.