Ministry of health protection of the republic of uzbekistan

TEXT A. THE ABDOMEN

The abdomen is the largest cavity of the body. It is bounded above by the thorax or chest and below by two pelvic bones which meet in front. From the cavity of the thorax it is separated by the great muscle of respiration — the diaphragm. Laterally and in front it is enclosed by the lower ribs and abdominal muscles. Behind, it is supported by the spinal column.

The organs of the abdominal cavity are the liver, the gall-bladder, the stomach, the intestines, the pancreas, the spleen, the kidneys and the bladder.
The liver lies under the right ribs and extends across to the left of the epigastrium. The liver is a large organ that weighs about 1,5 kg. Every­body must know that the liver plays a very important role in the vital activities of the organism. It is the liver that secretes bile which partic­ipates in the digestive process and has a defensive function, i.e. some toxic substances are detoxified in the liver.
The gall-bladder lies beneath the right lobe of the liver. The gallbladder serves as a bile reservoir.
The stomach lies under the left ribs and extends across to the right. It is known that its smaller end situates in the epigastrium. The stomach serves as a container of food, which is partly digested in it. The size and shape of the stomach vary with any amount of food that is consumed and the extent of contraction of its wall. The stomach when it is filled with food is usually compared with a chemical retort. Its capacity is some 1—2 litres.
The intestines (“internal” - Latin) occupy chiefly the central portions of the abdominal cavity. From the stomach the food passes in small portions into the small intestine where it undergoes further mechanical and chemical changes. As the contents of the small intestine cannot move back they may freely pass into the large intestine.
The “small” and “large” refers to the width, rather than the length. The small intestine is only 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter at the point where it leaves the stomach and it narrows somewhat thereafter. The large intestine is up to 2 1/2 inches wide.


Exercise 9. Read and translate the following sentences from text A.
1. The liver plays a very important part in the vital activity of the organism. It secretes bile which participates in the digestive process and has a defensive function, i.e. some toxic substances are detoxified in the liver. 2. From the stomach the food passes in small portions into the small intestine where it undergoes further mechanical and chemical changes. 3. The small intestine is only 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter at the point where it leaves the stomach and it narrows somewhat thereafter.


Exercise 10. Read and translate text A. Find answers to the following questions and read them.
1. Where is the largest cavity of the body situated? 2. What organs does the abdominal cavity contain? 3. What are the characteristics of the liver?
4. What does the gall-bladder serve for? 5. What are the characteristics of the stomach? 6. How do we distinguish “small” and “large” intestines?


Exercise 11. Make the plan of text А in written form.


Exercise 12. Find the pairs of synonyms.
spinal column, to participate, beneath, thorax, chest, under, to take part, backbone


Exercise 13. Find the pairs of antonyms.
above, in front of, small, lower, to the left, to pass in; upper (higher), to the right, to leave, behind, below, large


Exercise 14. Translate the following sentences. Define the type of Subordinate Clauses.
1. After the food leaves the stomach it is acted on by several digestive enzymes. 2. The stomach is a bag the walls of which are largely made up of involuntary or smooth muscle fibres. 3. The liver is a large and extremely important organ whose work is somewhat intermediate between digestion and nutrition. 4. The esophagus is a 9 to 10 inch muscular tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach. 5. The food material which is taken into the mouth must be digested mechanically or chemically as it travels through the gastro-intestinal tract.


Exercise 15. Describe the organs of the digestive system.