Chapter 3: Gastroenterology - Gastrointestinal System

gastro

stomach

enter/o

intestine

The gastrointestinal system begins at the ___ and ends at the ___

mouth, anus

alimentary canal

Where digestion occurs

alimentum

nourishment

Functions of the gastrointestinal system

digest food, absorb nutrients, and remove waste

Mechanical digestion

breaks up food with physical

force and movement.

Chemical digestion

breaks up food chemically (stomach acid/enzymes)

Mastication

tearing, chewing, and grinding of food by the

teeth.

Deglutition

swallowing food.

Peristalsis

movement of the food via muscular

contractions.

Anorexia

Decreased appetite because of disease or the GI side

effect of a drug.

orex/o

appetite

Dysphagia

Difficult or painful eating or swallowing.

dys

abnormal, difficult, painful

phag/o

eating or swallowing

Polyphagia

Excessive overeating due to overactive thyroid, DM,

or psychiatric illness.

Glossitis

Infection or inflammation of the tongue

gloss/o

tongue

Sialolithiasis

Presence of a stone (sialolith) in a salivary gland

that blocks saliva and causes swelling.

sial/o

saliva

lith/o

stone

Stomatitis

Inflammation of the oral mucosa.

stomat/o

mouth

Dyspepsia

Mild, temporary epigastric pain; (common =

indigestion). Bloating, burping, acid, etc.

Can be caused by excess stomach acid,

fatty and/or spicy foods, or GERD)

peps/o

digestion

Esophageal varix

Swollen, protruding vein in the esophageal

mucosa. Bleeding can occur with food

irritation

varix

dilated, swollen vein in the

mucosa

Nausea and

vomiting

N&V) Nausea is an unpleasant, queasy feeling in the

stomach; vomiting is expulsion of stomach

contents through the mouth.

emesis

vomiting

Hematemesis

Vomiting of blood.

Gastritis

Acute or chronic inflammation of the

stomach. Can be due to bacterial or viral infection,

spicy foods, alcohol, excess stomach

acid

Gastroenteritis

Acute infection or inflammation of the

stomach and intestines; can be bacterial

or viral

Gastroesophageal

reflux disease

(GERD)

Chronic irritation due to reflux of stomach

acid into the esophagus.

• Due to failure of the esophageal

sphincter to close

• Can lead to ulcers or cancer.

Pyrosis

Temporary irritation of the esophagus

due to reflux of stomach acid.

pyr/o

burning, fire

Peptic ulcer

disease

(PUD) Chronic irritation, burning pain, and erosion of

the mucosa due to an ulcer.

May be in the stomach, esophagus, or

duodenum.

• Usually caused by Helicobacter pylori

(bacterium) when it occurs in the stomach.

• Can also be caused by hydrochloric acid,

stress, and drugs.

Adenocarcinoma

Cancerous tumor of the stomach that begins in

gastric mucosal glands; often caused by H.

pylori.

aden/o

gland

carcin/o

cancer

Ileus

Absence of normal peristalsis.

• May be caused by mechanical obstruction,

infection, or trauma.

• May also occur as postoperative ileus.

• Ileus = to roll, colic (Gk)

Order of the parts of the small intestine

duodenum, jejunum, and ileum

Intussusception

Telescoping of one intestinal segment inside

another. Cause unknown

intussuscept/o

= receive within

Volvulus

Twisting or rotating of the small intestine around

itself; malrotation. Cause: abdominal adhesions

and/or weakened mesentery

volvere

to roll

mal

bad

rotat/o

rotate

Celiac disease

Autoimmune disorder and toxic reaction to

gluten in certain grains; inflammatory response

damages villi of the small intestine. Also called gluten sensitivity enteropathy

celi/o-

abdomen

Appendicitis

Inflammation and/or infection of the

appendix by waste materials trapped

inside it.

Colon cancer

Cancerous tumor of the colon that

develops when colonic polyps or

ulcerative colitis become cancerous.

Diverticulum

Weakness in the colon wall forms a pouch

diverticula

turn down or aside

Diverticulitis

Inflammation due to feces getting trapped in a

diverticulum; often caused by low fiber diet

Polyposis

A condition of numerous polyps, which are fleshy

benign growths in the mucosa.

Inflammatory

bowel disease

Chronic inflammation of parts of the small and

large intestines. Diarrhea, bloody stool. Cramps’

cause unknown

Crohn disease

Affects the ileum and colon

Ulcerative colitis

Affects the colon and

rectum; can cause ulcers

Irritable bowel

syndrome (IBS)

Condition with cramping, pain, diarrhea,

bloating, constipation, and excessive mucus

but no inflammation. Occurs in the colon.

Cause: possible lactose intolerance, stress

Hemorrhoids

Swollen, protruding veins of in the rectum or

on the anus. Caused by straining due to

constipation or an increase in abdominal

pressure as with pregnancy. Passing feces

can irritate and cause bleeding.

hemorrh/o

flowing of blood

Proctitis

Inflammation of the rectum due to radiation

treatments for cancer, ulcers, or infection.

proct/o

rectum and anus

Rectocele

A hernia in the wall of the rectum that causes the

rectal wall to protrude into the vaginal wall

rect/o

rectum

cele

hernia

Constipation

Failure to have regular, soft bowel movements.

Causes can be lack of dietary fiber, lack of exercise,

effects of certain drugs

constip/o

compacted feces

Diarrhea

Abnormally frequent, loose, and watery feces;

involves increased peristalsis that moves the feces

through the large intestine before water is absorbed.

dia

through; complete

rrhea

discharge or flow

Flatulence

Excessive amounts of gas in the stomach or

intestines; many different dietary causes. (flatus =

Latin, blowing)

ence

state

Hematochezia

Blood in the feces

bright red blood in feces indicates

a

lower GI bleed

melena

dark, sticky feces

with partially digested blood

melena indicates

stomach

or esophagus bleed.

Steatorrhea

Feces that contains undigested fats due to a lack

of the enzyme lipase.

steat/o

fat

Hernia

movement of tissues. Hernia is latin for rupture.

Hiatal hernia

bulging of the stomach through the

diaphragm.

Inguinal hernia

occurs in groin

Peritonitis

Serious infection of the peritoneum that occurs when the

stomach or duodenal wall breaks or the appendix

ruptures.

• Contents of the stomach or appendix spill into the

abdominal cavity

• Surgery is necessary to clean out the abdominal cavity.

periton/o

peritoneum

Hepatitis

Infection and inflammation of the liver by the

hepatitis virus; the most common chronic liver

disease

Hepatomegaly

Enlargement of the liver due to cirrhosis,

hepatitis, or cancer; enlargement is palpable on

physical exam.

Ascites

Accumulation of ascitic fluid in the abdominopelvic

cavity due to increased pressure in abdominal

veins. The increased pressure pushes fluid from

blood into abdominopelvic cavity.