Digestive System

Tongue

Chief organ for taste; aids with chewing (mastication), swallowing and speech; contains papillae which are tiny, slightly rough protrusions on the surface; taste buds also are among the papillae

Teeth

A set of extremely hard appendages set in the jaw bone to assist with chewing food; baby teeth referred to as “deciduous” meaning they will fall out; permanent teeth will follow baby teeth

Salivary Glands

Three glands in the mouth that secrete saliva that will moisten food and start the digestion of sugars and carbohydrates even before the food is swallowed

Uvula

A small, fleshy mass of tissue at back of mouth cavity that hangs from above; aids with sound

Pharynx

Muscular cavity often referred to as the throat; air and food/liquids both pass by this area

Epiglottis

A thin, leaf-shaped cartilage that is important in preventing food and liquids from entering into the lungs; lies just behind base of the tongue; sometimes can be seen if mouth is opened wide

Esophagus

Tube-like passageway from pharynx to the stomach; smooth muscles contract by peristalsis to assist in food movement; commonly called the food pipe or gullet; about 10 inches long

Stomach

Muscular J-shaped organ that assists digestion by acids, enzymes, and churning of food

Duodenum

First portion of small intestine where enzymes are added to digest stomach contents (chyme)

Jejunum

Middle part of the small intestine where the majority of digestion and absorption occurs

Ileum

Later part of the small intestine where absorption of B12 and reabsorption of bile salts occurs

Cecum

A dilated pouch located at beginning of large intestine; on the right side of body near appendix

Appendix

A small tube ranging in length that extends from the cecum; might play an important role in maintaining intestinal bacterial flora and immunity

Ascending Colon

Portion of the colon from the cecum to the hepatic fissure; site for normal bacterial flora

Transverse Colon

Travels across the upper part of abdomen; for reabsorbing water & electrolytes

Descending Colon

Between splenic fissure & sigmoid colon; for reabsorption of water & electrolytes

Sigmoid Colon

Part of colon before the rectum; stores undigested food until it is evacuated

Rectum

Last portion of the large intestine; stores feces (undigested food, bacteria, sloughed off cells)

Anus

The opening of the rectum on the body surface for expelling feces; controlled by 2 sphincters, one that is involuntarily controlled and the other under voluntary control; a sphincter is a circular muscle that normally stays constructed to hold material (liquid/solid) in place until ready to relax

Gall Bladder

Pear-shaped reservoir for bile; behind the liver; stores and concentrates bile

Liver

Large, dark red gland in upper abdomen that filters blood, secretes bile, converts sugar into glycogen & more

Pancreas

a large elongated exocrine gland that lies horizontally behind the stomach; secretes digestive enzymes into a duct that will travel to the duodenum; the enzymes will mix in with food (chyme=partially digested food) to add further in digestion; plays a very important role with insulin and other hormones; part of two body systems (endocrine and digestion)

Gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach

Esophagitis

Inflammation of the esophagus; can develop from having chronic GERD

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus causing heartburn

Hiatal Hernia

A protrusion of the top of the stomach that extends through a tight area of the diaphragm that normally only allows room for the esophagus to extend through; may need surgical repair

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas; possible severe pain; can be acute or chronic; related to gall stones, alcoholism, diabetes Melkite’s or problems with other body organs

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gall bladder; most likely caused by gallstones or bacterial infection

Cholelithiasus

Condition of gallstones; hardened cholesterol stones formed from bile

Cholecystectomy

Removal of the gallbladder

Cirrhosis

Chronic inflammation of the liver with loss of architecture

Jaundice

Yellowish pigmentation of skin and eyes caused by despoliation of bile pigments

Ascites

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the spaces between tissues and organs in the abdominal cavity

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and intestine caused by ingested harmful bacteria toxin or virus, with acute nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea

Appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix which may rupture

Appendectomy

Excision of the appendix

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

A group of autoimmune disorders with chronic inflammation of the stomach and intestines; examples are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Crohn’s Disease

Type of inflammatory bowel disease affecting any section of GI track; immune system attacks GI track causing pain, diarrhea (with/without blood), watery diarrhea, gas, bloating, vomiting; genetic link exists for some patients; may affect other organs of the body such as skin and eyes

Diverticulum

A singular outpouching of the wall of the gut to form a sac

Diverticulitis

Inflammation of the diverticula, pouches that form in the walls of the large intestine

Polyposis

Many polyps (growths hanging from a think stalk); common in colon, often tested for cancer

Colectomy

Surgical removal of all or part of the large intestine (colon) often because of cancer or ulcers

Colostomy

Surgical creation of an opening (stoma) between colon and body surface so fluids can exit

Ileostomy

Surgical creation of opening (stoma) between the ileum and body surface so fluids can exit

Stoma

An artificially created opening on the surface of the body; can be for not just fluids but also air

Colonoscopy

Endoscopic examination of the colon

Gastroscopy

Inspection of the stomach with a gastroscope

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

Using endoscope to examine esophagus, stomach and duodenum

Emesis

Material expelled from the stomach during vomiting

Flatulence

Excessive passing of gas through the anus; certain foods increase gas production (e.g. beans, cabbage, fiber); also caused by bacterial action on undigested sugars (lactose), fiber, and polysaccharides in the colon

Diarrhea

Abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools; can be watery diarrhea or bloody diarrhea

Melena

Abnormal black, tarry stool containing digested blood

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneal cavity; may be caused by chemical irritation or bacterial invasion

Anorexia

Loss of appetite, especially if prolonged

Emaciation

Excessive Leanness caused by disease or lack of nutrition

Cachexia

Severe malnutrition and wasting, emaciation

Peristalsis

Muscular movement of food and liquid through the GI tract

Bilirubin

Pigment from breakdown of red blood cells; blood values are elevated in liver disease or obstruction of bile ducts in diseases of gallbladder

Roux-en-Y (RNY) Bypass of Gastric Bypass

Considered the “gold standard” of GI bypass procedures. The surgeon divides the stomach into a large portion and a much smaller one with the smaller one remaining connected to the larger stomach which set positioned separately off to the side. The stomach juices still travel down the duodenum which is connected further down into the jejunum. This reduces the chances of severe malabsorption. No body parts are removed and the stomach is smaller resulting in chronically overweight patients losing weight.

GI

Gastrointestinal

GIB

Gastrointestinal bleeding; bleeding anywhere from the mouth to the rectum

UGIB

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding; specific for originating from the stomach and above

GERD

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

IBD

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

BMI

Body Mass Index

NG

Nasogastric tube (sometimes abbreviated as NGT); for feeding nutrition through tube in nose

NPO

Nothing per as

TPN

“Total” feeding of a patient by liquid nutrition through an IV in vein or tube through nose or other entry; (total parental nutrition); often used for comatose or vegetative state patients