Chapter 14 Reading Guide 2011
Read Ch. 14: The Digestive System, and complete the reading guide.
Anatomy & Physiology of the Digestive System, pps. 469-475
1.
A healthy digestive system is important for good health because it converts __________ into
the raw materials that build and fuel our body’s __________.
2.
Specifically, the digestive system takes in food (_______________________), breaks it down
physically and chemically into _________________ molecules (______________________), and
________________ the nutrients into the ______________________________. Then it rids the body of
the indigestible remains (_________________________).
Anatomy of the Digestive System:
1.
The digestive system can be separated into two main groups: the ___________________
_________________, and the _________________ _____________________ ______________________.
2.
The alimentary canal performs four main functions:
a. ____________________
3.
b. ___________________ c. _____________________ d. ______________________
The accessory organs include: ________________, _________________________, and
___________________________.
4.
The alimentary canal, AKA _____________________________ __________________, is continuous,
hollow, and open at __________________________________________, The flow of food mouth 
___________________ 
_______________________  stomach _____________________________________
and _________________________________.
5.
The alimentary canal may be ________ feet long in a cadaver. This canal is like an elongated
doughnut because: ____________________________________________________________
1
Chapter 14 Reading Guide 2011
Terms:
a.
Lingual frenulum –
b. Masticate –
6.
Esophagus: is about ____________ cm long and serves as a passageway to conduct food via
_______________________ to the stomach.
7.
Peritonitis: an infection of the _____________________________________.
8.
Stomach: a _____ - shaped organ on the _____________ side of the abdominal cavity.
9.
Stomach regions: C__________________, F__________________, B________________, and P_______________
10. When full, the stomach can hold about ____________________________ of food. The function of
the greater & lesser omentums is to: __________________________________________________________.
11. The stomach not only moves food along the tract, it will also _____________, __________, and
________________ the food, physically breaking it down. In addition, the chemical breakdown of
_________________ begins here. Most digestive activity occurs in the __________________ region of
the stomach. After food has been processed, it resembles heavy cream and is called
___________________.
Small Intestine & Large Intestine, pps. 475-479
1.
The small intestine is the body’s major _________________ organ. It is the longest part of the
alimentary tube, with a length of ____________________.
2.
The small intestine has three (3) subdivisions:
a.
________________________________
__________ %
b. _________________________________
__________ %
c.
__________ %
__________________________________
2
Chapter 14 Reading Guide 2011
3.
Chemical digestion begins in earnest in the small intestine (SI). It is only able to process a
______________ amount of food at one time. The ___________________ __________________ controls
food movement to keep the SI from being overwhelmed.
4.
The duodenum is __________ - shaped. Enzymes are produced here. ________________, made by
the liver, enters here.
5.
Nearly all ________________ absorption occurs here.
6.
The SI has three structures to help increase its surface area:
a.
7.
_____________________, b. _____________________________, c. _______________________________
The number of these tissues decreases toward the end of the SI, reflecting that the
undigested material contains a large number of ___________________________.
The large intestine
1.
The large intestine (LI) is much larger in _____________________, but shorter in ________________ as compared to the small intestine.
2.
The major functions of the large intestine are:
a.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
3.
It frames the small intestine and has these subdivisions:
________________  ______________________  __________________  _______________________ 
_______________________________________.
4.
Hanging from the cecum is the __________________________ - sometimes causing trouble because
it is ____________________.
5.
Regions of the LI: _________________________ colon  _______________________ colon 
______________________ colon  ______________________ colon  _____________________.
3
Chapter 14 Reading Guide 2011
6.
The external anal sphincter is _________________________, and the internal anal sphincter is
________________________________.
7.
There are no ________________ in the large intestine, but there are many ________________ cells
that produce a rich ____________.
8.
This acts as a ____________________________ to ease the passage of _______________.
Accessory Digestive Organs, pps. 479-481
1.
Masticate –
2.
Deciduous teeth (AKA: ________________________) –
3.
Salivary glands –
4.
Bolus –
5.
Mumps -
6.
Pancreas –
7.
The _________________________ is the largest gland in the body. It is located under the
______________________, to the ________________________, and covers the ___________________________.
8.
The liver has ___________ lobes – it’s digestive function is to produce ________________.
9.
A function of bile is to ____________________
___________ by physically breaking down large
________ globules into smaller ones.
10. The gallbladder is nestled in a fossa of the _______________. Its job is to store ______________
until it is needed when fatty foods enter the ___________________________.
4
Chapter 14 Reading Guide 2011
Functions of the Digestive Tract, pps. 481-493
Name and summarize the six events of digestion:
1.
_____________________________
2.
______________________________
3.
______________________________
4.
______________________________
5.
______________________________
6.
______________________________
5
Chapter 14 Reading Guide 2011
Trace the path of food from the mouth and through the entire digestive tract by naming locations
and events important to digestion. You may wish to number or bullet your many events in this
process. Please reference pages 485-493 in your textbook.
6