Gastrointestinal System Radiographic Anatomy and Physiology

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms, anatomical structures, functions, and radiographic correlation procedures for the gastrointestinal system.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract

A continuous muscular tube responsible for the ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination of food.

Ingestion

The process of taking in food and drinks.

Digestion

The process of breaking down food into smaller, usable molecules through mechanical and chemical means.

Absorption

The process by which nutrients are absorbed into the blood or lymph through the small intestine.

Elimination

The process by which undigested food and waste products are expelled through the rectum and anus.

Accessory Organs

Organs that assist in food digestion, including the salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Alimentary Canal

The continuous muscular path containing organs through which food passes: mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus.

Parotid Glands

The largest major salivary glands, located near the ears, which secrete watery saliva rich in enzymes (especially amylase) and drain into the mouth via Stensen's duct.

Stensen's Duct

The duct through which the parotid gland drains saliva into the oral cavity.

Submandibular Glands

Salivary glands located beneath the lower jaw that produce mixed saliva (serous and mucous) and drain through Wharton's duct near the base of the tongue.

Wharton's Duct

The duct through which the submandibular gland drains into the oral cavity near the base of the tongue.

Sublingual Glands

The smallest major salivary glands, located beneath the tongue, which produce mostly mucous saliva and drain through several small ducts called Rivinus' ducts.

Rivinus' Ducts

Several small ducts through which the sublingual glands drain saliva into the mouth.

Liver

The largest gland in the human body, located in the upper right part of the abdomen just below the diaphragm, which produces bile and performs vital metabolic and detoxifying functions.

Gallbladder

A small, pear-shaped muscular sac located beneath the liver that functions as a storage reservoir for bile.

Right and Left Hepatic Ducts

Ducts that collect bile from the right and left lobes of the liver and join to form the common hepatic duct.

Common Hepatic Duct (CHD)

The duct formed by the union of the right and left hepatic ducts.

Cystic Duct

The duct connecting the gallbladder to the common hepatic duct, allowing bile to flow into the gallbladder for storage and out for release.

Common Bile Duct (CBD)

The duct formed by the union of the common hepatic duct and cystic duct that delivers bile into the duodenum.

Hepatopancreatic Ampulla (Ampulla of Vater)

The junction where the common bile duct joins with the pancreatic duct before entering the duodenum.

Sphincter of Oddi

The muscular valve surrounding the hepatopancreatic ampulla that controls the release of bile and pancreatic juice into the duodenum.

T-tube Cholangiography

A general radiography procedure used specifically to visualize the biliary tree following biliary surgery.

Oral Cavity

The gateway of digestion where food is ingested, chewed, mixed with saliva, and tasted before being swallowed.

Sialography

A radiographic contrast study of the salivary gland ducts.

Esophagus

A 25 cm long muscular tube connecting the pharynx to the stomach that propels swallowed food and liquids via peristalsis.

Upper Esophageal Sphincter

A muscular ring at the pharyngoesophageal junction that regulates food entry and prevents air from entering the esophagus.

Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES)

A muscular ring at the gastroesophageal junction where the esophagus passes through the diaphragm to join the stomach.

Barium Swallow (Esophagogram)

A radiographic study of the esophagus that shows motility, strictures, tumors, diverticula, hiatal hernia, and reflux.

Stomach

A muscular, J-shaped organ in the upper left abdomen that temporarily stores food, mixes it with gastric juice, and begins protein digestion.

Cardia

The region of the stomach where the esophagus meets the stomach.

Fundus

The dome-shaped upper part of the stomach, often filled with air on X-ray imaging.

Body of Stomach

The main central portion of the stomach that secretes acid and enzymes.

Pylorus

The distal region of the stomach consisting of the pyloric antrum and pyloric canal, ending at the pyloric sphincter.

Rugae

Folds in the inner lining of the stomach that allow it to expand when filled with food.

Serosa

The smooth outermost layer of the stomach wall, forming part of the visceral peritoneum.

Lesser Curvature

The shorter, concave inner border of the stomach where the lesser omentum attaches.

Greater Curvature

The longer, convex outer border of the stomach where the greater omentum attaches.

Small Intestine

A coiled tube 6 meters long where most digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs; the longest part of the digestive tract.

Duodenum

The C-shaped first portion of the small intestine (25 cm long) that receives bile and pancreatic enzymes.

Jejunum

The middle section of the small intestine (2.5 m long) beginning at the duodenojejunal flexure, featuring a thick, highly vascular wall and acting as the main site of absorption.

Ileum

The distal section of the small intestine (3.5 m long) ending at the ileocecal valve, with a thinner wall and containing Peyer's patches.

Small Bowel Follow-Through (SBFT)

A radiographic study following a barium meal that tracks barium passage through the small intestine to evaluate obstruction, Crohn's disease, or malabsorption.

Large Intestine

A 1.5 m long organ where water and electrolytes are absorbed, undigested materials are transported, and feces are formed.

Cecum

The pouch-like beginning of the large intestine with the vermiform appendix attached.

Hepatic Flexure (Right Colic Flexure)

The bend of the colon between the ascending colon and the transverse colon, located near the liver.

Splenic Flexure (Left Colic Flexure)

The bend of the colon between the transverse colon and the descending colon, located near the spleen.

Barium Enema

A contrast enema study of the large intestine used to evaluate polyps, tumors, diverticula, volvulus, and strictures.