Digestive System Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering organs, accessory structures, word parts, diseases, surgical procedures, diagnostic tests, signs/symptoms, and medical terminology related to the digestive system.

Mouth

Opening through which food passes into the body; breaks food into small particles by mastication (chewing) and mixing with saliva.

Tongue

Consists mostly of skeletal muscle; provides movement of food for mastication, directs food to the pharynx for swallowing, and is a major organ for taste and speech.

Palate

Separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity.

Uvula

Soft V-shaped structure that extends from the soft palate; directs food into the throat.

Pharynx

Performs the swallowing action that passes food from the mouth into the esophagus (also called throat).

Esophagus

10-inch (25-cm) tube that is a passageway for food extending from the pharynx to the stomach. Peristalsis begins here.

Peristalsis

Involuntary wavelike movements that propel food along the gastrointestinal tract.

Stomach

J-shaped sac that mixes and stores food. It secretes chemicals for digestion and hormones that control digestive system functions.

Pyloric sphincter

Ring of muscle that guards the opening between the stomach and the duodenum.

Small intestine

20-foot (6-m) tube where digestion is completed and absorption of nutrients takes place through villi.

Villi

Tiny fingerlike projections that line the walls of the small intestine, through which absorption takes place.

Duodenum

First 10 to 12 inches (25 cm) of the small intestine.

Jejunum

Second portion of the small intestine, approximately 8 feet (2.4m) long.

Ileum

Third portion of the small intestine, approximately 11 feet (3.3 m) long, which connects with the large intestine.

Large intestine

Approximately 5 feet (1.5 m) long tube where absorption of water and transit of solid waste products occur.

Cecum

U-shaped pouch that is the first portion of the large intestine.

Colon

Main portion of the large intestine, divided into ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid parts.

Rectum

Distal portion of the large intestine, extending from the sigmoid colon to the anus.

Anus

Sphincter muscle at the end of the gastrointestinal tract for elimination of solid waste products of digestion.

Salivary glands

Produce saliva, which flows into the mouth.

Liver

Produces bile, necessary for fat digestion; performs many functions related to digestion and metabolism.

Biliary tract

Organs and ducts that transport, store, and release bile (also called biliary system).

Common bile duct

Small, tubelike structure where the hepatic duct and cystic duct join; conveys bile to the duodenum to aid in fat breakdown.

Gallbladder

Small, saclike structure that stores bile produced by the liver.

Pancreas

Produces pancreatic juice, which helps digest all types of food; secretes insulin for carbohydrate metabolism.

Peritoneum

Serous saclike lining of the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Appendix

Small pouch, which has no known function in digestion; attached to the cecum (also called vermiform appendix).

Abdomin/o

Combining form meaning abdomen, abdominal cavity.

Enter/o

Combining form meaning intestines (usually the small intestine).

Hepat/o

Combining form meaning liver.

-ectomy

Suffix meaning excision, surgical removal.

-itis

Suffix meaning inflammation.

-plasty

Suffix meaning surgical repair.

-scopy

Suffix meaning visual examination.

Appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix.

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder.

Cholelithiasis

Condition of gallstones.

Colitis

Inflammation of the colon.

Gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach.

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver.

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas.

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum.

Adhesion

Abnormal growing together of two peritoneal surfaces that normally are separated.

Celiac disease

Malabsorption syndrome caused by an immune reaction to gluten, damaging the lining of the small intestine.

Cirrhosis

Chronic disease of the liver with gradual destruction of cells and formation of scar tissue.

Crohn disease

Chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract usually affecting the ileum and colon; characterized by cobblestone ulcerations.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Abnormal backward flow of the gastrointestinal contents into the esophagus, causing heartburn.

Hemorrhoids

Swollen or distended veins in the rectum or anus.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Periodic disturbances of bowel function, such as diarrhea and/or constipation, usually associated with abdominal pain.

Obesity

Excess of body fat, increasing body weight; BMI greater than 30 kg/m².

Peptic ulcer

Ulceration or erosion of the mucous membrane of the stomach or duodenum.

Polyp

Tumorlike growth extending outward from a mucous membrane; usually benign.

Ulcerative colitis (UC)

Disease characterized by inflammation of the colon with the formation of ulcers, causing bloody diarrhea.

Abdominocentesis

Surgical puncture to aspirate fluid from the abdominal cavity (also called paracentesis).

Appendectomy

Excision of the appendix.

Cholecystectomy

Excision of the gallbladder.

Colectomy

Excision of the colon.

Colostomy

Creation of an artificial opening into the colon (through the abdominal wall; used for the passage of stool).

Gastrectomy

Excision of the stomach (or part of the stomach).

Gastrostomy

Creation of an artificial opening into the stomach (through the abdominal wall).

Herniorrhaphy

Suturing of a hernia (for repair).

Laparotomy

Incision into the abdominal cavity (also called celiotomy).

Bariatric surgery

Surgical reduction of gastric capacity to treat morbid obesity.

Cholangiography

Radiographic imaging of the bile ducts (after administration of contrast agents).

Colonoscopy

Visual examination of the colon.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

Visual examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

Laparoscopy

Visual examination of the abdominal cavity.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Procedure using an endoscope to visualize the biliary and pancreatic ducts, introduce contrast agents, and record x-ray images.

Upper GI series

Series of radiographic images taken of the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and duodenum after oral barium administration.

Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)

Examination of a stool sample to detect blood not directly visible.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stool antigen

Chemical test on a fecal sample to determine the presence of the bacteria (H. pylori) that can cause peptic ulcers.

Dyspepsia

Difficult digestion (often used to describe GI symptoms like abdominal pain and bloating).

Dysphagia

Difficult swallowing.

Hepatomegaly

Enlargement of the liver.

Steatorrhea

Discharge of fat (excessive amount of fat in the stool).

Gastroenterologist

Physician who studies and treats diseases of the stomach and intestines (GI tract and accessory organs).

Gastroenterology

Study of the stomach and intestines (branch of medicine dealing with GI tract and accessory organs).

Nasogastric

Pertaining to the nose and stomach.

Ascites

Abnormal collection of fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

Diarrhea

Frequent discharge of liquid stool.

Emesis

Expelling matter from the stomach through the mouth (also called vomiting).

Hematemesis

Vomiting of blood.

Melena

Black, tarry stool that contains digested blood; usually a result of bleeding in the upper GI tract.

Nausea

Urge to vomit.

Feces

Waste from the gastrointestinal tract expelled through the anus (also called stool or fecal matter).

Stoma

Surgical opening between an organ and the surface of the body, or between body structures.