Glossary

	Absorption – the process by which nutrients from digested food move from the gut into the body and how cells exchange nutrients and water with the blood stream Absorption, Passive – osmosis, a selective diffusion process [see Osmosis] Active Transport – requires energy and a specific carrier molecule Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) – a chemical synthesized by the mitochondria in cells to produce energy Amino Acids – the 'building blocks' of protein; protein is constructed of chains of amino acids which are folded into complex arrangements Artery – a blood vessel which carries oxygenated blood away from the heart Arteriole – the smallest division of the arteries ATP - [see Adenosine Triphosphate] Bacterial Translocation – gut bacteria or their by-products moving across the gut wall barrier into circulation Barrier Function – active function of the gut wall which protects and limits access to the inner body Bile – a digestive juice secreted by the liver and stored in the gall bladder; bile emulsifies fats [see Emulsify] Brush Border – an apt term for an epithelial surface covered with microvilli [see Epithelium and Microvilli] Carnivore, Carnivorous – species who eats mainly other animals Cecum – a blind pouch at the beginning of the large intestine Central Nervous System – the brain and spinal cord Cholagogue – a drug or other substance which promotes the discharge of bile from the gall bladder, purging it downward Chyle – milky mix of emulsified dietary fat and lymph [see Bile, Emulsify, and Lymph] Chyme – thick semifluid mass of partly digested food made in the stomach Circulatory System – a system for delivery and pick-up CNS - see Central Nervous System Colon – a term for the large bowel or large intestine Detoxify - to remove or to make safe, said of chemicals and poisons Diffusion, Facilitated – diffusion requiring a carrier but not usually an energy source Diffusion, Passive – movement of molecules or ions from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration Digestion – the processes, both mechanical and chemical, by which food is broken down into absorbable form [see Absorption] Digestive System – the digestive tract plus the internal organs of pancreas, liver and gall bladder [see Digestive Tract] Digestive Tract – a complex specialized tube running from mouth to anus; the outside-the-inner-body part of the Digestive System Duct – a tubular channel used to deliver a secretion or substance Duodenum – the first section of the small intestine where the chyme is neutralized by buffers from the pancreas and bile delivered from the gall bladder Electrolytes – dissolved ions, usually of minerals, that conduct electrical impulses which facilitate movement in and out of cells Emulsify – to create a suspension of two substances, like oil and water, that would normally not mix Endocrine – glands in the body, such as the thyroid, pituatary, pancreas, which secrete hormones directly into the blood stream to give orders and directions elsewhere Endocrinopathic – trouble in the endocrine gland system, too much hormone production, too little hormone production [see Hormone] Endocytosis – absorption by engulfing [see Pinocytosis and Phagocytosis] ENS – [see Enteric Nervous System] Enteric Nervous System – a subdivision of the Peripheral Nervous System that directly controls the gastrointestinal system Enzymes - biomolecules constructed of amino acids that speed up biochemical reactions without themselves changing in the process Epithelium – tissue which covers a surface or lines an organ and is composed of cells which secrete or transport or regulate; the skin (epidermis) is one form of epithelium Feces – see Poop Fermentable Fiber – fiber which the gut bacteria can utilize Fiber – undigestible/nonabsorbable leftovers from plant digestion consisting of mainly complex sugar molecules Fiber, Dietary – fiber naturally present in food ingredients Fiber, Functional – fiber added to food items Fiber, Soluble – fiber which can dissolve in water Fiber, Insoluble – fiber which does not dissolve in water Gall Bladder - storage organ for bile synthesized in the liver Gastric Acid – a very acidic solution composed mainly of hydrochloric acid secreted into the stomach by special glands Gland – A cell or group of cells or organ that produces a secretion for use elsewhere Goblet Cells – specialized cells whose sole function is to secrete mucin which dissolves in water to form mucous (see Mucous) Gut Bacteria – microscopic organisms living in the bowel in numbers which outnumber the cells of the body Hematochezia – visible bright red blood on the stool [see Melena] Hepatic – of the liver, involving the liver Hormone – a chemical which controls and regulates the activity of certain cells or organs Ileocecal Valve – the valve between the small intestine and the large intestine (see Sphincter) Ileum – last section of the small intestine where absorption of Vitamin B12 and resorption of bile salts occurs and whose wall contains an abundance of Peyer's Patches ICC – [see Interstitial Cells of Cajal] Infection – inflammation in response to foreign invasion by bacteria or other invasive organisms (see Inflammation and Pus) Inflammation – the body's innate and initial response to injury or other troubles characterized by pain, heat, redness, swelling and possible impairment of function (see Pus and Infection) Interstitial Cells of Cajal – cells in the wall of the gut that act as pacemakers for movement contractions, that set the pace of action Interstitial Fluid – the body's fluid outside the blood vessels Involuntary – not under one's own control Jujenum – longest and middle section of the small intestine where most absorption of nutrients occurs Lacteal – the chyle collecting vessel in the middle of each villus [see Chyle and Villi/Villus} Laxative – a food or drug that facilitates pooping Leukocytes – white blood cells Lumen – the interior space of a tubular organ such as an intestine or blood vessel Lymph – interstitial fluid once that fluid has moved into the lymph system [see Interstitial Fluid] Melena – occult or hidden blood mixed into the stool from a bleed higher in the digestive tract, often resulting in a dark tarry stool [see Hematochezia] Mesentery – tissue constructed of folds of the peritoneum which supports the small intestine like a flexible scaffolding and carries the blood supply to the small intestine for absorption and transport of nutrients Mesocolon – the mesentery of the large intestine [see Mesentery] Metabolism, Metabolic – body processes at the cellular level Microvilli – smaller villi covering the villi Mitochondria – the power generators of a cell, power used to fuel cell division, absorption, etc. [see Adenosine Triphosphate or ATP] Molecule – the smallest particle of a substance that retains the chemical and physical properties of the substance and is composed of two or more atoms. A molecule of water is an example; two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen forms a molecule of water. Monocyte – a phagocytic white blood cells [see Phagocyte] Mucin – a substance composed of glycosylated proteins emitted by the goblet cells which forms mucous in contact with water [see Goblet Cells and Mucous] Mucous or Mucus – buffered slippery secretion of mucous membrane, a gel which lubricates and protects the membranes themselves and plays a role in immune function at the local level Mucous (or Mucus) Membrane – mucous-secreting tissue lining all body passages that lead to the outer world Muscle – specialized tissue with the ability to contract and to conduct electrical impulses Neutrophil – a phagocytic white blood cell [see Phagocyte] Omnivore, Omnivorous – species who eat both animal and plant foods Organ – a fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function Osmosis – diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane Pepsin – a protyletic (protein digesting) enzyme produced by special cells in the stomach to initiate protein digestion Peripheral Nervous System - the nerves belonging to other than the Central Nervous System and the Enteric Nervous System Peristalsis – the rhythmic rippling motion of muscles in the digestive tract to move its contents along [see Segmentation] Peritoneum – the membrane lining the body cavity Peyer's Patches – patches of lymphoid tissue or lymphoid nodules especially prevalent on the wall of the ileum which contain large amounts of lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system pH – a measure of how acid or alkaline a solution is Phagocyte – white blood cells whose assignment is to move out of the blood into tissue or lymph to destroy bacteria or consume debris Phagocytosis – absorption by 'eating' large molecules [see Endocytosis] Pinocytosis – absorption by 'sipping' small water soluble molecules [see Endocytosis] Plicae Circulares – folds of the inner lining of the small intestine PNS - see Peripheral Nervous System Poop – familiar term for waste material discharged from the bowel Probiotics – supplement of beneficial live microorganisms such as bacteria and yeasts Pus – the hallmark of inflammation, a mix of white blood cells, fluid from damaged cells, and cellular debris (see Infection and Inflammation) Pyloric Sphincter – the valve between the stomach and the small intestine (see Sphincter) Rectum – the poop storage area of the large bowel Resorb or Resorption – to absorb again [see Absorption], essentially a reversal of direction Rugae – series of ridges produced by folding of the wall of an organ. Think origami. The stomach wall is folded into rugae, it is not smooth like a bowling ball. Saliva – a mix of mucous, water, enzymes and electrolytes which serves to lubricate food's passage down the esophagus as well as cleansing and protecting the mouth Segmentation – mixing contractions of the digestive tract; works in concert with peristalsis Septicemia – toxic systemic bacterial infection Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) – fermentation by-products of gut bacteria Smooth Muscle – type of muscle in the gut wall as opposed to striated muscle; involuntary muscle Sphincter/Valve – a ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening and relaxes to open Striated Muscle – skeletal muscle (voluntary) and heart muscle (involuntary) Stool – see Poop Synthesize – to make something new out of different parts, whether a chemical or a rag rug or a casserole from leftovers Translocation – change of location; gut bacterial breach of the barrier of the gut wall into the blood stream Valve – see Sphincter Vein – a blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood back to the heart for reoxygenation Venule – the smallest division of the veins Villi (plural) and Villus (singular) – literally "shaggy hair", fingerlike projections on the wall of the small intestine, each covered in turn with microvilli Voluntary – under one's own control Water – the original, and still the most widely used, solvent; indispensable in poop to prevent constipation Review Search Query “Cats require purity and simplicity.” – SEM