Med Term ch. 8

Digestive system (gastrointestinal (GI) system)

- breaks down food and absorbs nutrients into the body

- food that is not digested/absorbed passes out of digestive system in form of solid waste

Functions of digestive system

- physical and chemical breakdown of food into smaller nutrient molecules

- absorption: nutrients pass into bloodstream

- elimination: expulsion of food that is not digested/absorbed

oral cavity

1st portion of gut tube

- teeth: break food

- tongue: moves food and mixes with saliva

- saliva: has digestive enzymes & lubricates food

- palate: bony anterior (hard), flexible posterior (soft), uvula: hangs from soft palate - speech production and gag reflex

teeth

front: bite, tear, and cut food

- incisors, cuspids (canines)

back: grind and crush food into finer pieces

- bicuspids (premolars), molars

parts: crown (above gumline), root (below gumline)

pharynx

- after oral cavity, then is pharynx

- food passes through oropharynx, then through laryngopharynx

- epiglottis is flap that prevents swallowed food from entering the respiratory tract

esophagus

- muscular tube (10 inches long) in adults

- carries food through thoracic cavity & into abdominal cavity, enters the stomach

- food is propelled through esophagus (enters GI) by contractions: peristalsis

stomach

J shaped

- churns food with hydrochloric acid and gastric juices (chyme)

- fundus, body, antrum

- rugae: folds in stomach

Cardiac sphincter: food pass from esophagus to fundus

Pyloric sphincter: regulates chyme from antrum to small intestine

small instestine

longest part of gut tube (pyloric sphincter to colon)

- digestion and absorption of nutrients

- villi (projections): lining, makes efficient absorption

- microvilli: increase absorptive ability

Duodenum, Jejunum, Ileum

large intestine

- most fluid reabsorbed here

colon: ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid

- rectum: stores feces

salivary glands

- produce saliva

- saliva mixes with chewed food to form bolus that is easier to swallow

- saliva has amylase: enzyme that begins to breakdown carbs

Parotid glands (front of ears), Sublingual gland (floor of mouth), Submandibular gland (floor of mouth)

liver

URQ of abdomen

- process absorbed nutrients

- detoxifying harmful substances

- producing bile

bile helps in breakdown of large fat molecules into smaller droplets

gallbladder

Lies under liver and stores bile

- bile gets to gallbladder by hepatic and cystic ducts

- contraction sends bile back down cystic duct and into common bile duct

- bile then enters duodenum: emulsifies fat in chyme

pancreas

connects to duodenum by pancreatic duct (exocrine)

- buffers neutralize the acids in chyme

- pancreatic enzymes chemically digest carbs, fats and proteins

Endocrine gland: makes insulin and glucagon (regulates blood glucose levels)

dentisty

prevention, diagnosis, treatment involving teeth, jaw, and mouth

(dentist)

gastroenterology

diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive system

(gastroenterologist)

oral surgery

uses surgical means to treat dental conditions

(oral surgeon)

orthodontics

correction of tooth alignment problems

(orthodontist)

periodontics

treating conditions with gums and tissues surrounding the teeth

(periodontist)

proctology

diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the anus and rectum

(proctologist)

anorexia

loss of appetite that may accompany other conditions; different from anorexia nervosa

aphagia

unable to swallow or eat

ascites

collection of fluid in the peritoneal cavity

bradypepsia

having a slow digestion system

cachexia

weight loss and generalized wasting that occurs during chronic disease

cholecystalgia

gallbladder pain

constipation

difficult or infrequent defecation

dentalgia

tooth pain

diarrhea

passing of frequent, watery, or bloody bowel movements

dysorexia

abnormal appetite; usually a diminished appetite

dyspepsia

indigestion; having an upset stomach

dyshagia

having difficulty swallowing or eating

emesis

vomiting

eructation

burping of gas or stomach acid into the mouth; belching

flatulence

presence of excess gas in the stomach or intestines

gastralgia

stomach pain

hematemesis

vomiting blood

hematochezia

passing bright red blood in the stool

hyperemesis

excessive vomiting

jaundice

yellow cast to the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eyes; caused by the deposit of bile pigment

melena

passage of dark tarry stool due to digested blood

nausa

urge to vomit

obesity

having too much body fat leading to a body weight that is above a healthy level

polyphagia

excessive eating

postprandial

after a meal

pyrosis

pain and burning sensation due to stomach acid splashing into the esophagus (heartburn)

regurgitation

return of fluids and solids from the stomach into the mouth

aphtous ulcers

painful ulcers in the mouth of unknown orgin (canker sores)

cleft lip

congenital anomaly in which the upper lip and jaw bone fail to fuse in the midline, leaving an open gap

cleft palate

congenitally anomaly where the roof of the mouth has a split/fissure

dental caries

decay and disintegration of teeth caused by bacteria (tooth cavity)

gingivitis

inflammation of the gums

herpes labialis

Infection of the lip by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1): fever blisters or cold sores

periodontal disease

disease of the supporting structures of the teeth, including the gums and bones; the most common cause of tooth loss

sialadenitis

inflammation of a salivary gland

esophageal varices

enlarged and swollen veins at the lower end of the esophagus

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

condition which acid from stomach flows backward into the esophagus, causing inflammation and pain

pharyngoplegia

paralysis of the throat muscles

gastric carcinoma

cancerous tumor in the stomach

gastritis

inflammation of the stomach

gastroenritis

inflammation of the stomach and small intestine

hiatal hernia

protrusion of the stomach upward through the opening in the diaphragm & thoracic cavity (diaphragmatocele)

peptic ulcer disease (PUD)

ulcer in the lower portion of the esophagus, stomach, and/or duodenum; can be caused by acid in gastric juices and result of Helicobacter pylori infection

anal fistula

abnormal tube-like passageway near the anus directly into the rectum

bowel incontinence

inability to control defecation

celiac disease

autoimmune condition affecting small intestine; caused by reaction to eating gluten; bloating, pain, diarrhea, and nutritional deficiences

colorectal carcinoma

cancerous tumor of the colon or rectum

Crohn's disease

chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting ileum and/or colon; affects all layers of bowel; scarring and thickening (regional ileitis)

diverticulitius

inflammation of diverticulum or outpouching of gut; results from food being trapped inside

dysentery

disease with diarrhea, mucus and blood, severe abdominal pain, fever, and dehydration

enteritis

inflammation of the small intestine

hemorrhoids

varicose veins in rectum and anus

ileus

severe abdominal pain, inability to pass stool, vomiting, and abdominal distension as a result of intestinal blockage

inguinal hernia

protrusion of a loop of the small intestine into the inguinal (groin) through weak spot in the abdominal wall

intussusception

intestine slipping or telescoping into another section of intestine just below it

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

disturbance in functioning of intestines from unknown causes; abdominal discomfort and alteration in bowel activity

polyposis

presence of small tumors (polyps) in mucous membranes of large intestine; may be precancerous

protoptosis

prolapsed or drooping rectum and anus

ulcerative colitis

chronic inflammatory condition resulting in many ulcers on lining of colon (inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

cirrhosis

chronic liver disease

lavage

use if NG tube to wash out the stomach

gavage

use of NG tube to place liquid nourishment in the stomach

volvulus

condition in which the bowel twists upon itself, causing an obstruction

cholecystitis

inflammation of the gallbladder; most commonly caused by gallstones

cholelithiasis

presence of gallstones; may or may not cause symptoms

enema

injection of fluid through the rectum and into the large intestine

alanine transaminase (ALT)

enzyme normally present in the blood; levels are increased in persons with liver disease

aspartate transaminase (AST)

enzyme normally present in the blood; levels are increased in persons with liver disease

fecal occult blood test (FOBT)

laboratory test to determine whether microscopic amounts of blood are present in feces; also called hemoccult or stool guaiac test

H. pylori antibody test

test to diagnose H. pylori infection associated with peptic ulcer disease

ova and parasites (O&P)

examination of feces to detect the presence of parasites or their eggs

serum bilirubin

test to determine the amount of bilirubin in bloodstream; elevated levels indicate liver disease

stool culture

test of feces to look for the presence of pathogenic bacteria

tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody test

blood test for celiac disease; detects antibodies formed in autoimmune response to gluten

bitewing X-ray

X-ray taken with part of the film holder positioned between and parallel to the teeth

cholecystogram

X-ray image of the gallbladder

intravenous cholecystography

X-ray of the gallbladder and bile ducts after intravenous injection of dye

lower gastrointestinal series (lower GI series)

X-ray image of the colon and rectum taken after the administration of barium by enema; also called a barium enema (BE)

percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC)

X-ray of the liver and bile ducts after injection of contrast medium directly into the liver

upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series

X-ray of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum taken after oral administration of barium contrast material; also called a barium swallow

colonoscope

instrument used to view inside the colon