The document summarizes key terms related to the digestive system. It describes the digestive system as a long muscular tube stretching from the mouth to anus that breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste. The main organs include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Accessory organs that help digestion include the liver, pancreas, and salivary glands. The document also defines several digestive conditions such as cirrhosis, jaundice, and ulcerative colitis.

1. Digestive System Terms
Chapter 8: Digestive System
Bio 120: Medical Terminology
Emily May

2. The Digestive System
● Three main functions include digesting food,
absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste.
● Includes the physical and chemical breakdown
of large food particles into simple nutrient
molecules.
● Includes approximately 30 feet of continuous
muscular tube called the gut, alimentary canal,
or gastrointestinal tract that stretches between
the mouth and anus.
● Also known as the Gastrointestinal System (GI).

3. Organs of the Digestive System
Main Organs Accessory Organs
● Oral Cavity ● Liver
● Pharynx ● Pancreas
● Esophagus ● Gallbladder
● Stomach ● Salivary Glands
● Small Intestine
● Colon

4. How Does the Digestive System
Function?

5. Cirrhosis
● A chronic disease of
the liver.
● Associated with
failure of the liver to
function properly.
● Commonly seen in
patients with severe
alcoholism.

6. Jaundice
● Yellow cast to skin,
mucous membranes,
and whites of eyes.
● Caused by deposit of bile
pigment from too much
bilirubin in blood.
● Often carcinoma of the
liver or gallstones
blocking the common
bile duct.

7. Ulcerative Colitis
● Chronic inflammatory
condition that
produces numerous
ulcers to form on
mucous membrane
lining of colon.
● Cause is unknown.
● Also known as
inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD).

8. Sources
Dannishi. (2009, July 23). Digestive System [Video file]. Retrieved
from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7xKYNz9AS0
Fremgen, Bonnie F., & Frucht, Suzanne S.
(2009). Medical Terminology: A Living Language. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson Education, Inc.
Jordan, Jo. (2012). Jaundice Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.
Retrieved October 9, from Puristat Digestive Wellness Center website: http://www.
puristat.com/liver-cleansing/jaundice.aspx
UT Health Science Center. (2008, January 29). Digestive Disease Center. Retrieved from:
http://digestivedisease.uthscsa.edu/colitis.asp
You Can Stop Drinking Now. (2012). Alcohol and Liver Disease - Cirrhosis Symptoms
and
Treatment. Retrieved from: http://howistoppeddrinking.org/alcohol-and-liver-
disease