Acidic pH:Acid-base balance refers to the mechanisms the body uses to keep its fluids close to neutral pH
Alimentary Canal: The mucous membrane-lined tube of the digestive system through which food passes
Amylase: Any of a group of enzymes that are present in saliva
Bile: A bitter, alkaline, brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow fluid that is secreted by the liver, stored in the gallbladder
Digestion: The process by which food is converted into substances that can be absorbed and assimilated by the body.
Duodenum: The beginning portion of the small intestine, starting at the lower end of the stomach and extending to the jejunum.
E.Coli: A bacillus (Escherichia coli) normally found in the human gastrointestinal tract and existing as numerous strains, some of which are responsible for diarrheal diseases.
Epiglottis: The thin elastic cartilaginous structure located at the root of the tongue that folds over the glottis to prevent food and liquid from entering the trachea during the act of swallowing.
Esophagus: Wind pipe
Essential Amino Acids: An amino acid that cannot be made by humans and so is essential to the human diet. There are 9 essential amino acids histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
Feces: Waste matter eliminated from the bowels; excrement (in other words poop)
Gall Bladder: A small, pear-shaped muscular sac that stores bile for digestion.
Hydrochloric Acid: A clear, colorless, fuming, poisonous, highly acidic aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride. found in dilute form in the stomach.
Large intestine: The portion of the intestine that extends from the ileum to the anus
Lipase: Any of a group of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of fats into glycerol and fatty acids.
Liver: Secretes bile and is active in the formation of certain blood proteins and in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Mesentery: Any of several folds of the peritoneum that connect the intestines to the dorsal abdominal wall
Mucous: Pertaining to, or resembling, mucus (spit)
Neutral pH: measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a fluid and 7 in neutral.
Pancreas: Secretes pancreatic juice into the duodenum and insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin into the bloodstream.
Pepsin: A digestive enzyme found in gastric juice that catalyzes the breakdown of protein to peptides.
Peristalsis: The wavelike muscular contractions of the alimentary canal or other tubular structures by which contents are forced onward toward the opening.
Pyloric Sphincter Valve:
Rectum: The terminal portion of the large intestine, extending from the sigmoid colon to the anal canal.
Salivary Glands: Glands that produce saliva
Small Intestine: The narrow, winding, upper part of the intestine where digestion is completed and nutrients are absorbed by the blood.
Stomach: The sac-shaped digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upper part of the stomach connects to the esophagus, and the lower part leads into the small intestine.
Villi: A tiny finger-like or hair-like projection. A small vascular protrusion.
Villus is the Latin word for shaggy hair or fleece. The plural is villi.
