| A | B |
|---|
| an/o | anus, ring |
| cec/o | cecum |
| chol/e | bile, gall |
| col/o, colon/o | colon, large intestine |
| enter/o | small intestine |
| esophag/o | esophagus |
| gastr/o | stomach, belly |
| hepat/o | liver |
| cholecyst/o | gallbladder |
| -lithiasis | presence of stones |
| pancreat/o | pancreas |
| -pepsia | digest, digestion |
| proct/o | anus and rectum |
| rect/o | rectum, straight |
| sigmoid/o | sigmoid colon |
| alimentary canal | the digestive system |
| upper GI tract | the mouth, esophagus, and stomach |
| lower GI tract | the small intestine, large intestines, rectum, and anus |
| labia | lips; opening to the oral cavity |
| hard palate | the bony anterior portion of the palate which is covered with a specialized mucous membrane |
| soft palate | the flexible posterior portion of the palate that closes off the nasal passage during swallowing so food does not move upward into the nasal cavity |
| papillae | taste buds |
| deciduous dentition | baby teeth; there are 20 |
| permanent dentition | adult teeth designed to last a lifetime; there are 32 |
| occlusion | in dentistry, any contact between the chewing surfaces of the maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) teeth |
| gingiva | gums; the specialized mucous membrane that surrounds the teeth, covers the bone of the dental arches, and continues to form the lining of the cheeks |
| salivary glands | secrete saliva that moistens food, begins the digestive process, and cleanses the mouth |
| esophagus | also known as the gullet, is a collapsible tube that leads from the pharynx to the stomach |
| rugae | folds in the mucosa lining the stomach; glands located within these folds produce that gastric juices that aid in digestion and mucus that forms the protective coating of the lining of the stomach |
| pyloris | the narrow passage connecting the stomach with the small intestine |
| pyloric sphincter | the muscle ring that controls the flow from the stomach to the duodenum of the small intestine |
| duodenum | the first portion of the small intestine, extending from the pylorus to the jejunum |
| jejunum | the middle portion of the small intestine, extending from the duodenum to the ileum |
| ileum | the last portion of the small intestine, extending from the jejunum to the cecum of the large intestine |
| large intestine | made up of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anus |
| vermiform appendix | commonly called the appendix, hangs from the lower portion of the cecum; it has no known function in the digestive system |
| accessory organs | organs that play a key role in the digestive process but are not part of the gastrointestinal tract |
| hepatic | pertaining to the liver |
| glucose | blood sugar |
| glycogen | a form of starch |
| bilirubin | a pigment produced from the destruction of hemoglobin, it is released by the liver in bile |
| bile | a digestive juice containing enzymes that break down fat |
| cholecystic | pertaining to the gallbladder |
| pancreatic juices | made up of sodium bicarbonate (to help neutralize stomach acids) and digestive enzymes (to process the protein, carbohydrates, and fats in food) |
| enzymes | responsible for the chemical changes that break foods down into simpler forms of nutrients for use by the body |
| nutrient | a substance, usually from food, that is necessary for normal functioning of the body |
| metabolism | all the processes involved in the body's use of nutrients |
| absorption | process by which completely digested nutrients are taken into the circulatory system by passing through the capillaries located in the walls of the small intestine |
| villi | tiny hairlike projections that line the walls of the small intestine |
| mastication | chewing; breaking down food into smaller pieces and mixing it with saliva |
| peristalsis | a series of wavelike contractions of the smooth muscles in a single direction |
| chyme | the semifluid mass of partly digested food that passes from the stomach, through the pyloric sphincter, and into the small intestine |
| emulsification | bile breaking apart large fat globules into smaller particles so enzymes in the pancreatic juices can digest the fats |
| defecation | also known as a bowel movement, the evacuation or emptying of the large intestines |
| flatulence | also known as flatus, the process whereby gas passes out of the body through the rectum |
| gastroenterologist | specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the stomach and intestines |
| internist | specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the internal organs |
| orthodontist | a dental specialist in the prevention or correction of abnormalities in the positioning of the teeth and related facial structures |
| periodontist | dental specialist who prevents or treats disorders of the tissues surrounding the teeth |
| proctologist | specializes in disorders of the colon, rectum, and anus |
| herpes labialis | also known as cold sores or fever blisters, are blister-like sores caused by the herpes simplex virus that occur on the lips and adjacent tissue |
| cleft lip | also known as a harelip, is a congenital defect resulting in a deep fissure of the lip running upward to the nose |
| cleft palate | a congenital fissure of the palate that involves the upper lip, hard palate, and/or soft palate |
| dental caries | also known as tooth decay or a cavity, is an infectious disease that destroys the enamel and dentin of the tooth |
| dental plaque | a soft deposit consisting of bacteria and bacterial by-products that builds up on the teeth and is a major cause of dental caries and periodontal disease |
