Digestive System: Anatomy, Disorders, and Medical Procedures

Upper GI Tract

Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach

Lower GI Tract

Small and large intestines, rectum, anus

Accessory Organs

Liver, gallbladder, pancreas

Hard palate

Anterior portion of the palate; covered with specialized mucous membrane

Soft palate

Flexible posterior portion of the palate; closes off nasal passage during swallowing preventing upward movement of food/liquid

Uvula

Plays role in swallowing, snoring, and speech

Tongue

Very strong, flexible, and muscular in nature; important in chewing, speaking, and swallowing

Dorsum

Upper surface of the tongue; contains taste buds

Sublingual surface

Under the tongue

Lingual frenum

Attaches tongue to the floor of the mouth

Saliva

Colorless liquid that maintains moisture in the mouth and begins the digestive process

Parotid glands

Located slightly in front of each ear

Sublingual glands

Located on floor of the mouth under the tongue

Submandibular glands

Located on floor of the mouth near the mandible

Pharynx

Common passageway for respiration and digestion; important role in deglutition (swallowing)

Epiglottis

Closes entrance to trachea to prevent food and liquid from moving from pharynx during swallowing

Esophagus

Muscular tube for the passage of ingested food from pharynx to stomach

Lower esophageal sphincter

Muscular ring between esophagus and stomach that relaxes to allow food to enter the stomach

Rugae

Folds in mucosa lining allowing the stomach to increase and decrease in size

Gastric juices

Enzymes and hydrochloric acid that aid in food digestion

Chyme

Gastric juices and partly digested food

Pyloric sphincter

Ring-like muscle at base of stomach that controls the flow of partially digested food from stomach to the duodenum

Duodenum

First portion of the small intestine

Jejunum

Middle portion of the small intestine

Ileum

Longest portion of the small intestine

Cecum

First part of the large intestine

Colon

Four parts of the large intestine

Rectum

Final section of the large intestine

Anus

Opening at the end of the digestive tract

Digestion

Process by which complex food is broken down into nutrients to be used by the body

Metabolism

Chemical reactions involved in body's use of nutrients

Anabolism

Builds up cells/substances by use of nutrients

Catabolism

Breaks down cells/substances releasing energy and carbon dioxide

Cleft lip

Deep groove of the lip upward to the nose as a result of portion of the lip failing to close during prenatal development

Cleft palate

Failure of palate to close during early development of the fetus

Dysphagia

Difficulty in swallowing

Stricture

Abnormal narrowing of the esophagus due to scar tissue or other damage

Hiatal Hernia

An anatomical abnormality in which a portion of the stomach protrudes upward into the chest, through an opening in the diaphragm

Peptic ulcers

Gastric ulcers that occur in the stomach

Duodenal ulcers

Occur in the upper part of the small intestine

Polyp

Mushroom-like growth from the surface of the mucous membrane; may be benign or malignant

Enteritis

Inflammation of the small intestine; may be viral or bacterial

Intestinal Obstruction

Partial or complete blockage of small or large intestine

Volvulus

Twisting of the intestine on itself

Intussusception

Telescoping of one part of the small intestine into the opening of the adjacent part

Ascites

Abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in peritoneal cavity; may be the result of severe liver disease

Hepatomegaly

Abnormal enlargement of liver

Jaundice

Yellow discoloration of skin, mucous membranes, and eyes due to increased bilirubin in the blood

Hepatitis

Inflammation of liver usually caused by viral infection

Cholangitis

Acute inflammation of bile duct usually caused by bacterial infection

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of gallbladder often associated with gallstones

Gallstone

Hard deposit in gallbladder and bile ducts due to concretion of bile components

Cholelithiasis

Presence of gallstones in gallbladder or bile ducts

Cholangiography

Radiographic examination of bile ducts with the use of contrast medium

Enema

Placement of solution into rectum/colon to empty the lower intestine

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

Allows direct visualization of upper GI tract

Upper and Lower GI Series

Radiographic studies to examine digestive system

Capsule Endoscopy

Use of tiny video camera that is swallowed by patient

Nasogastric (NG) Intubation

Placement of feeding tube through nose into the stomach to provide nutrition

Gastrostomy tube

Surgically placed feeding tube from exterior of body directly into stomach to provide nutrition

Bariatric surgery

Treats morbid obesity by restricting amount of food entering the stomach for digestion

Sleeve Gastrectomy

The stomach is sutured to make it into a small tube, reducing its capacity by about 75 percent

Colectomy

Surgical removal of all or part of the colon

Colotomy

Surgical incision into the colon

Colostomy

Surgical creation of artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface

Ileostomy

Surgical creation of artificial excretory opening between ileum and outside of abdominal wall

Anastomosis

A surgical connection between two hollow, or tubular, structures

Cholecystectomy

Surgical removal of the gallbladder