MEDICAL ENGLISH STUDENT BOOK DUY TH.

NGUYEN

Chapter 4

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
1. Crossword puzzle

1
2
3

4
5

Across
1. The organ mechanically and chemically transforms a food bolus into chyme
3. Where bile is stored and concentrated
4. Tiny fingerlike projection in the small intestine
5. The opening at the end of the digestive tract in which solid wastes are eliminated
6. The body's food-processing system
7. Gallbladder, liver, pancreas, salivary glands are .......... digestive organs
8. The wave of muscular contraction that moves material through the GI tract toward the anus
9. Part of the digestive system removes solid wastes such as feces from the body
Down
1. Where digested molecules of food, water, minerals are absorbed
2. The final portion of the large intestine
5. The movement of digestion products, electrolytes, vitamins, and water across the GI tract

Page 20
MEDICAL ENGLISH STUDENT BOOK DUY TH. NGUYEN

2. Listen to the tract 4.1 and complete the following passage

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

The primary functions of the digestive system are the (1)………. of food called digestion and
absorption of nutrients. Digestion begins in the mouth where the teeth break food into smaller
(2)………. during mastication. Salivary glands located near the oral cavity secrete saliva which begins
(3) ………. digestion and keeps the food moist.
As food is swallowed, the soft palate (4)……….the upper pharynx to prevent food from entering the
nasal cavity and multiple voluntary muscles in the face, neck and tongue contract pushing food
particles through the pharynx. The food passes over the (5)………. which prevents food entry into the
respiratory system and then into the esophagus which connects the pharynx to the stomach. The one-
way movement of the food mass, called a bolus, is controlled by wave-like (6)………. muscle
contractions. This movement is known as (7)………..
The bolus now enters the stomach. Folds in the stomach wall called (8)………. allow for expansion as
the stomach fills stomach cells secrete hydrochloric acid, pepsinogen and various regulatory
hormones that chemically digest the bolus. Muscular contractions in stomach turn its contents to
further break down the bolus and mix it with stomach secretions to form a thick liquid called
(9)……….. .
Chyme exits the stomach through the (10)………. and enters the small intestine, the major site of
nutrient absorption. The small intestine consists of three parts the (11) ………., (12) ………. and (13)
……….. .
(14)………. from the liver and digestive enzymes from the pancreas empty into the duodenum to
(15)………. in digestion. Absorbed nutrients pass from the lumen of the small intestine into blood and
(16)………..
Chyme’s not absorbed in the small intestine enters the large intestine. As it passes through the cecum
and ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colon, water and (17)………. are absorbed and
chyme is converted into (18)……….. The rectum stores feces until nervous stimulation initiates the
defecation reflex resulting in (19)………. through the (20)……….. .

Page 21