anal canal,The anal canal is located after the rectum and is the end of the intestinal tract. It is 4 cm long and ends at the anus. Feces from the rectum move through the anal canal and leave through the anus.
anus,The anus is the distal opening of the alimentary canal. The opening of the anus is controlled by the sphincter muscles which regulate the passage of fecal matter out of the body.
appendix,The appendix, more accurately called the vermiform appendix or appendix vermiformis, is a small, thin organ from three to six inches in length. It is connected to the cecum and is part of the large intestine. The function of the vermiform appendix is unknown, but blockage of it, a condition known as appendicitis, may cause serious infection or rupture.
ascending colon,The ascending colon, also called the colon ascendens, is located between the cecum and the right colic flexure. The colon is the part of the large intestine which is between the cecum and the rectum. It is sometimes inaccurately referred to as the large intestine, which includes the cecum. The colon receives the contents of the small intestine that were not absorbed into the bloodstream. It functions to remove excess water to firm the feces. The colon is divided into the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon.
cecum,The cecum is the first chamber of the large intestine. It connects to the end of the small intestine and to the appendix.
colon,The ascending colon, also called the colon ascendens, is located between the cecum and the right colic flexure. The colon is the part of the large intestine which is between the cecum and the rectum. It is sometimes inaccurately referred to as the large intestine which includes the cecum. The colon receives the contents of the small intestine that were not absorbed into the bloodstream. It functions to remove excess water to firm the feces. The colon is divided into the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon.
descending colon,The descending colon, also called the colon descendens, is the part of the colon that is located between the left colic flexure and the sigmoid colon at the pelvic girdle. The colon is the part of the large intestine which is between the cecum and the rectum. It is sometimes inaccurately referred to as the large intestine which includes the cecum. The colon receives the contents of the small intestine that were not absorbed into the bloodstream. It functions to remove excess water to firm the feces. The colon is divided into the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon.
digestive system,The digestive system is composed of the organs and glands which function to digest the food we eat. Its primary component is the digestive tract which extends from the mouth to the anus. The digestive tract is composed of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. Other organs, including the gallbladder, pancreas, and liver, secrete digestive enzymes which break down the food into readily absorbable molecules.
digestive tract,The digestive tract is composed of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.
duodenum,The duodenum is the upper part of the small intestine that connects the stomach to the small intestine. The duodenum wraps around the lower part of the pancreas. It receives digestive enzymes from both the pancreas and the gallbladder.
esophagus,The esophagus, also known as the gullet or oesphagus, is approximately twenty-four centimeters long, starting below the tongue at the pharynx and ending at the diaphragm where it meets the stomach. It is made up of a tube of muscle lined with mucous membrane and covered by a fibrous coat. Food and drink are transported from the mouth to the stomach via a process of muscle contraction called peristalsis.
gallbladder,The gallbladder is a small saclike organ that stores bile produced by the liver and secretes the bile into the duodenum via the common hepatic duct through an opening called the ampulla, during digestion. Bile breaks down fats to allow them to be absorbed by the small intestine. It is also called the cholecyst, vesica biliaris, and vesica fellea.
ileum,The ileum is the last and lower part of the small intestine that conects to the large intestine at the cecum.
large intestine,The large intestine is the part of the digestive system that is between the small intestine and the rectum. It includes the appendix, the cecum, the colon, and the rectum.
liver,The liver, also known as the hepar, has over 500 functions and is the largest gland. Some of its major functions include: producing bile, which is stored in the gallbladder; processing and storing glucose (blood sugar), fats, proteins, vitamins, and other metabolic compounds; producing hemoglobin for red blood cells; and converting poisonous ammonia to urea. The liver purifies the blood by removing old blood cells and renders poisons, including alcohol and nicotine, inert. The blood processing capacity of the liver is impressive, holding 1 pint at any given moment, which is about 13% of the total blood supply. The liver is divided into four main lobes with the right lobe being larger than the rest. It has approximately 100,000 smaller lobules. Two separate blood supplies serve the liver via the hepatic portal vein and the hepatic artery. The adult liver weighs about 4 pounds in men and 3 pounds in women and has a dark reddish-brown color.
lower digestive tract,The digestive tract is composed of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.
pancreas,The pancreas is an endocrine gland located behind and under the stomach. The pancreas releases insulin that promotes carbohydrate metabolism, and it releases glucagon that counters the insulin. The pancreas also releases enzymes that aid digestion of fats and proteins.
parotid,The parotids are the largest of the three pairs of salivary glands. They are located below and to the front of the ear.
parotid salivary gland,The parotid salivary glands are the largest of the three pairs of salivary glands. They are located below and to the front of the ear.
rectum,The rectum, also called the intestinum rectum, is located after the sigmoid colon and leads to the anal canal. It is the end of the intestinal tract and collects the solid waste of the digestive system. This waste is defecated through the anal canal.
salivary glands,The salivary glands are three pairs of glands that produce saliva. These glands are called the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. Saliva keeps the mouth moist and also moistens and softens food. Saliva contains water, organic salts, serum albumin, globulin, leukocytes, mucin, and ptyalin. Mucin is an oily carbohydrate that lubricates body surfaces and is the primary component of mucus. Ptyalin, also called alpha-amylase, acts to break down starches into the sugar maltose.
sigmoid colon,The sigmoid colon, also called the colon sigmoideum, is the S-shaped part of the colon that extends from the descending colon to the rectum. The colon is the part of the large intestine which is between the cecum and the rectum. It is sometimes inaccurately referred to as the large intestine which includes the cecum. The colon receives the contents of the small intestine that were not absorbed into the bloodstream. It functions to remove excess water to firm the feces. The colon is divided into the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon.
small intestine,The small intestine, also called the intestinum tenue, is the longest organ of the digestive tract. It starts at the stomach and ends at the large intestine and has three parts: the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum. Food that has been broken down to the molecular level is absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal wall.
spleen,The spleen is a reddish-purple organ found between the stomach and diaphragm on the left side of the body. It contains lymphoid tissue that produces lymphocytes and antibodies. These are used to remove old red blood cells and foreign particles from the bloodstream.
stomach,The stomach is a large semi-elastic, muscular organ, and is the primary organ of the digestive system. It lies between the esophagus and the duodenum and is made up of muscle lined with a mucous membrane that contains blood vessels, nerves and glands. Masticated food and drink enter from the esophagus and are mixed with acids and enzymes, then churned until they are partially digested. The mixture is then released into the duodenum through the pyloric valve. It is also called the gaster or ventriculus.
sublingual,The sublinguals are salivary glands located under the floor of the mouth beneath the tongue. They appear as elongated almond-shaped structures and weigh about 2 grams.
sublingual salivary gland,The sublingual salivary glands are located under the floor of the mouth beneath the tongue. They appear as elongated almond-shaped structures and weigh about 2 grams.
submandibular,The submandibulars are the round, walnut-sized salivary glands found beneath the mandible.
submandibular salivary gland,The submandibular salivary glands are the round, walnut-sized salivary glands found beneath the mandible.
teeth,The teeth are bonelike, calcified structures rooted in the maxilla and mandible bones of the jaw. They vary in shape for specific duties, such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food into small particles. Children have 20 temporary teeth, also called deciduous teeth or baby teeth. These deciduous teeth fall out and are replaced by 32 permanent adult teeth. Also called the dens (singular) and dentes (plural).
tongue,The tongue, also called the lingua muscle, is a muscular organ of the mouth with multiple uses. It has nerve endings that transmit the sense of taste. It moves food around in the mouth to be ground by the teeth. It helps in swallowing with the esophagus. It also helps in speech along with the lips and larynx.
tonsils,The tonsils are small, rounded masses of lymphoid tissue on either side of the soft palate arches between the mouth and the pharynx.
transverse colon,The transverse colon, also called the colon transversum, lies between the right and left colic flexures. The colon is the part of the large intestine which is between the cecum and the rectum. It is sometimes inaccurately referred to as the large intestine which includes the cecum. The colon receives the contents of the small intestine that were not absorbed into the bloodstream. It functions to remove excess water to firm the feces. The colon is divided into the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon.
upper digestive tract,The digestive tract is composed of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.
uvula,The uvula is the small, conical fleshy tissue suspended from the center of the soft palate at the back of the mouth.
