Lesson 10 Digestive System Diseases and Disorders

anorexia

loss of appetite; often precedes nausea and vomiting

bolus

mixer of food and saliva formed from chewing.

bulima

eating disorder; binges then induces vomiting, taking laxatives; may suffer from anorexia nervosa as well

deglutition

swallowing

fundus

the bit of a hollow organ that exists farthest away from the organ opening

mastication

chewing; the mechanical process of the teeth breaking down and crushing food

lacteals

specialized lymph vessels in the small intestine that absorb fat into the bloodstream

Peyer patches

small masses of lymphatic tissue found throughout the ileum of the small intestine, they form part of the immune system by monitoring intestinal bacteria and preventing the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines.

defecation

the discharge of feces from the body

diarrhea

frequent passage of loose, watery stools

lactose intolerance

impaired ability to digest lactose due to reduced amounts of the enzyme lactase

tenesmus

The feeling that you need to pass stools, even though your bowels are already empty. It may involve straining, pain, and cramping.

pylorus

the space which joins the stomach to the small intestine.

salivary amylase

enzyme in saliva that breaks down starch (polysaccharide)

cecum

a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines.

duodenum

Part of the small intestine which begins after the stomach and advances into the jejunum. Receives chyme from stomach and helps with absorption.

jejunum

portion of the small intestine that comes after the duodenum and before the ileum.

ileum

the last and longest portion of the small intestine; the location absorption of vitamin B12

anorexia nervosa

A psychological disorder in which an individual has a fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. It can cause people to try and lose weight in a variety of ways with the most common being not eating.

chyme

acidic fluid made up of gastric juices and partially digested food, passes from the stomach to small intestine

emesis

the act of vomiting, or ejecting stomach contents through the mouth and/or nose

hematemesis

vomiting blood

nausea

feeling of sickness and possibly wanting to vomit

projectile vomiting

severe type of vomiting, where stomach contents can be propelled up to several feet from one's body

vomiting

expelling matter from the stomach through the mouth (also called emesis)

frank blood

bright red blood in the stool; may be caused by hemorrhoids, intestinal bleeding, or hemorrhage

occult blood

blood that cannot be seen in the stool but is positive on a fecal occult blood test

melena

black, tarry stools; feces containing digested blood

hiatal hernia

a condition in which a portion of the stomach protrudes upward into the chest, through an opening in the diaphragm. The esophageal hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm.

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus

Barett's Esophagus

Damage to the lower part of the esophagus (because of stomach acid being refluxing up into it) which results in remodeling of esophagus from stratified squamous epithelial cells to simple columnar with goblet cells (cell morphology similar to those of the intestine).

esophageal varices

swollen, twisted veins in the esophagus that are especially susceptible to ulceration and hemorrhage

peptic ulcer

open sore or lesion of the mucous membrane of the stomach or duodenum

dysphagia

difficulty swallowing.

achalasia

lack of relaxation in the gastroesophageal sphincter prevents food from entering the stomach, leading to inflammation and reflux of food.

gastritis

inflammation of protective lining of the stomach.

gastroenteritis

inflammation of the stomach and intestines

infectious gastroenteritis agents

-group of viruses and bacteria, and parasites capable of causing serious communicable diarrhea, massive fluid and electrolyte loss, sepsis, and death
Etiology:
-ingestion of contaminated food or water and person-to-person contamination
-Giardia is the most common pathogen in children in daycare settings
-Rotavirus is the most common viral cause in all children and accounts for 29% of all deaths due to diarrhea among children younger than age 5

cholelithiasis

gallstones in the gallbladder

cholecystitis

inflammation of the gallbladder; usually associated with gallstones

cholangitis

an acute inflammation of the bile duct characterized by pain in the upper-right quadrant of the abdomen, fever, and jaundice

choledocholithiasis

Presence of gallstone(s) in common bile duct,

hyperbilirubinemia

excessive level of bilirubin (breakdown product of hemoglobin) in the blood which can lead to jaundice (yellowish color of sclera of eyes, skin & other tissues)

hepatitis

inflammation of the liver

ileostomy

surgical procedure where part of the ileum (last part of the small intestine) is attached to an artificial opening in the surface of the abdominal wall.

colostomy

surgical procedure that brings out part of the large intestine to the outside of the individual's body. A pouch for collecting feces is then attached to the portion of the intestine that is in contact with the outside environment.

fecalith

A hard, impacted mass of feces in the colon

peritonitis

inflammation of the peritoneum (membrane lining the abdominal cavity and surrounding the organs within it)

pelvic inflammatory disease

inflammation and infection of organs in the pelvic region usually caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections.

diverticulum

a small pouch, or sac, found in the lining or wall of a tubular organ such as the colon

Crohn disease

chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract usually affecting the ileum and colon

diverticulosis

abnormal condition of having diverticula

saliva

softens food in the mouth making it easier to swallow; helps break down food into simpler forms; secreted by glands in the mouth

stenosis

narrowing, stricture

strictures

narrowing of a tube-like structure such as the esophagus or urethra

esophageal diverticula

saclike outpouchings of one or more layers of the esophagus

fistula

an abnormal passage, usually between two internal organs or leading from an organ to the surface of the body

congenital atresia of the esophagus

Developmental defect in which the upper & lower esophageal segments are separated

metabolism

All of the chemical reactions that occur within an organism

exocrine glands

secrete chemical substances into ducts that lead either to other organs or out of the body

endocrine glands

Glands of the endocrine system that release hormones into the bloodstream

bile

A substance produced by the liver that breaks up fat particles.

glycogen

An extensively branched glucose storage polysaccharide found in the liver and muscle of animals; the animal equivalent of starch.

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

parasympathetic branch

The division of the autonomic nervous system that restores the body's normal resting state and conserves energy.

sympathetic branch

The division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the organism for physical exertion

histamine

a compound that is released by cells in response to injury and in allergic and inflammatory reactions. Chemical stored in mast cells that triggers vasodilation and increased permeability of capillaries.

steatorrhea

fat in the feces; foul-smelling fecal matter

referred pain

pain felt in a location where the injury does not exist.

somatic pain

Pain that originates from skeletal muscles, ligaments, or joints.

visceral pain

a poorly localized, dull, or diffuse pain that arises from the abdominal organs, or viscera

antiemetic

a medication that is administered to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting

Cushing ulcers

Ulcers that develop as a result of severe head trauma or brain surgery (decreased mucosal blood flow)

ischemic ulcers

Within hours of trauma, burns, hemorrhage, heart failure, or sepsis

pyloric stenosis

narrowing of the opening of the stomach to the duodenum

preicteric stage

The first stage of hepatitis preceding the appearance of jaundice; includes flu-like symptoms

icteric stage

The second stage of hepatitis, which includes the appearance of jaundice & associated symptoms such as elevated bilirubin levels, dark or tar-colored urine & clay-colored stools

posticteric stage

The convalescent stage in which the jaundice decreases & the color of the urine and stool returns to normal
-recovery stage
-reduction in signs
-weakness persists for weeks

pruritic

unpleasant sensation that provokes an itch. Can be a sign of skin disease or systemic disease.

cirrhosis

a chronic degenerative disease of the liver characterized by scarring

ascites

accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas

diverticulitis

inflammation of the diverticula

intestinal polyp

a general term used most commonly to describe a mushroom-like growth from the surface of a mucous membrane in the colon. Can be precancerous

volvulus

twisting or kinking of the intestine, causing intestinal obstruction

intussusception

telescoping of a segment of the intestine

Hirschsprung disease

hereditary defect causing absence of enteric nervous system

celiac disease

an autoimmune disorder that occurs from damage to the small intestine which is triggered by gluten and results in malabsorption of nutrients.

ulcerative colitis

a chronic condition of unknown cause in which repeated episodes of inflammation in the rectum and large intestine cause ulcers and irritation

constipation

Hard, slow stools that are difficult to eliminate; often a result of too little fiber in the diet or dehydration

inflammatory bowel disease

the general name for diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines; includes Crohn's disease & ulcerative colitis