Digestive System Terminology

noun a substance that neutralizes acid, especially in the stomach

• The doctor prescribed an antacid to help with my acid reflux.
• I always keep antacids in my purse in case I get heartburn.
• I need to pop an antacid after that spicy meal.
• Sometimes laughter is the best antacid for a heavy heart.

noun physical or mental weakness or lack of vitality

• The patient was diagnosed with muscle atony, causing weakness and lack of muscle tone.
• She's been feeling a bit of atony in her muscles lately, so she's trying to exercise more.
• I've been slacking off on my workouts, and now I'm dealing with muscle atony.
• The atony in their relationship was evident as they barely spoke to each other anymore.

noun a loud burp or emission of gas from the stomach through the mouth

verb to emit gas audibly from the stomach through the mouth

• The dinner party was interrupted by a loud belch from one of the guests.
• My brother always belches loudly after drinking soda.
• I can't believe you just belched in front of everyone!
• The factory belched out smoke, polluting the air around it.

noun a bitter greenish-brown alkaline fluid that aids digestion and is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder

• The liver produces bile to aid in the digestion of fats.
• I heard that eating greasy food can cause bile to build up in your stomach.
• I can't believe she had the bile to say that to my face!
• His words were filled with bile, showing his deep-seated resentment towards her.

noun a portion of food that returns from the first stomach of ruminants to the mouth to be chewed again

• Cows have multiple stomachs to help them digest their food, allowing them to chew their cud.
• I heard that cows chew their cud to help with digestion.
• Hey, did you know that cows regurgitate their cud and chew it again?
• She kept mulling over the problem in her mind, like a cow chewing its cud.

noun a condition in which feces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form

• The patient was diagnosed with acute diarrhea and was prescribed medication.
• I can't come to work today because I have diarrhea.
• I shouldn't have eaten that sketchy street food, now I have the runs.
• The team's performance took a nosedive, metaphorically speaking, like a case of diarrhea in a marathon.

noun the process of breaking down food in the body to obtain nutrients

• The process of digestion begins in the mouth as enzymes break down food particles.
• Eating slowly can help improve digestion and prevent stomach discomfort.
• I always feel bloated after eating fast food, my digestion is terrible.
• Just like how our bodies need time to digest food, our minds need time to process new information.

verb to swell or expand from internal pressure

• The doctor noticed that the patient's abdomen began to distend due to fluid retention.
• I ate so much at the buffet that my stomach started to distend.
• After eating a whole pizza, my belly was totally distended.
• The tension between the two countries continued to distend, leading to fears of potential conflict.

noun a bubbling or gurgling sound

verb to make a bubbling or gurgling sound

• The water gurgled as it flowed through the pipes.
• I could hear the stomach gurgle after eating too much.
• The baby's tummy started to gurgle after drinking milk too fast.
• Laughter gurgled out of him as he watched the comedy show.

noun a long, tube-like structure in the body that helps digest food and absorb nutrients

• The small intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients from digested food.
• I think I have a stomach ache because something's wrong with my intestine.
• I feel like my intestines are tied up in knots from all the stress.
• His decision to betray his friends twisted my intestine with guilt.

noun the first stomach of a ruminant animal, which receives food or cud from the esophagus

• The rumen is the first compartment of the stomach in a ruminant animal.
• Cows have a rumen where they store food before digesting it.
• I heard that cow's rumen is like a big storage tank for food.
• The rumen of knowledge is where ideas ferment and grow before being fully understood.

noun a small bird with a distinctive forked tail

verb to cause or allow something to pass down the throat

• The bird used its beak to swallow the fish whole.
• I can't believe you swallowed that whole sandwich in one bite!
• She was so nervous that she couldn't even swallow her words.
• He had to swallow his pride and apologize for his mistake.

noun A colloquial term for the stomach or abdominal area.

• She gently massaged her tummy after a hearty meal.
• I shouldn't have eaten that much, my tummy is so full now.
• I can't believe I just ate that whole pizza, my tummy is gonna hate me later.
• His tummy was full of butterflies as he waited for the results of the exam.

adjective describing something that has not been fully broken down or absorbed, usually referring to food in the digestive system

• The undigested food particles were visible in the patient's stool during the examination.
• I can't believe you ate so quickly, there's undigested food in your plate!
• I feel so bloated after eating that pizza, there's undigested stuff in my stomach.
• The undigested emotions from the argument lingered in the air long after they had made up.

noun a small opening or pore on the surface of a plant or animal, through which gases, liquids, or other substances may pass

• The surgeon created a stoma to divert waste away from the damaged portion of the intestine.
• My aunt has a stoma after her surgery to help with digestion.
• I heard that guy had to get a stoma put in after eating some bad street food.
• The company implemented a new system as a stoma to filter out inefficiencies in their operations.

noun an enzyme that breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol

• Lipase is an enzyme that helps break down fats in the digestive system.
• I heard that lipase is important for digesting fatty foods.
• My doctor told me my lipase levels were off the charts, whatever that means.
• Just like how lipase breaks down fats, we need to break down our problems into smaller pieces to solve them.

noun a noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'abdominal cavity' is a noun because it represents a specific part of the body.

• The abdominal cavity is the space within the abdomen that houses many vital organs.
• I heard the doctor mention something about the abdominal cavity during my check-up.
• Man, my stomach was hurting so bad, I thought something was seriously wrong with my abdominal cavity.
• Her emotions were like a storm brewing in the depths of her abdominal cavity.

adjective relating to or located in the abomasum, which is the fourth stomach compartment of a ruminant animal such as a cow or sheep

• The abomasal region of the cow's stomach is responsible for digesting food.
• I read an interesting article about the abomasal digestion process in cows.
• I had a stomachache, but it turned out to be just some abomasal discomfort.
• His words churned in my mind like abomasal acid, causing me great discomfort.

noun a condition characterized by a burning pain in the lower chest area, caused by stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus

• Many people experience acid indigestion after eating spicy or fatty foods.
• I always get acid indigestion when I eat too much pizza.
• Man, that burrito gave me killer acid indigestion.
• Dealing with that difficult client is like having constant acid indigestion - it's always there and hard to get rid of.

noun a type of bacteria that is beneficial to the human body, especially the digestive system

• Probiotic supplements often contain acidophilus, a type of beneficial bacteria.
• I take acidophilus capsules to help with my digestion.
• I heard that acidophilus is good for your gut health.
• In the garden of your body, acidophilus is like the friendly gardener keeping everything in balance.

adjective relating to or near the rectum

• The adrectal examination revealed no abnormalities in the patient's rectum.
• The doctor checked my adrectal area and said everything looks fine.
• I'd rather avoid any adrectal procedures if possible.
• His adrectal sense of humor always lightens the mood in the office.