Digestive system

What is mastication?

chewing food

What is the purpose of teeth?

help mechanically break down food

What are the two ways food is broken down?

mechanical and chemical

What is the purpose of salivary glands?

secrete saliva with certain enzymes that aid in the breakdown of food

What is the pharynx?

throat

What is the esophagus?

muscular tube (from oral cavity to stomach)

What is the stomach?

food reservoir

What is the small intestine?

Most nutrient absorption happens here

What is the large intestine?

reabsorption of water

How long is the small intestine?

20ft

How long is the large intestine?

5ft

What is the hepatic flexure?

where the ascending colon turns into the transverse colon

What is the splenic flexure?

where the transverse colon turns into the descending colon

What is the ileocecal valve?

Where unabsorbed food from the small intestine goes into the large intestine

What are the three accessory organs we talked about?

liver, gallbladder, and pancreas

What are some of the roles of the liver?

digestion, vitamin storage (B12, D, E, K), regulates blood glucose, detoxifier of the body, creates proteins, destroys old red blood cells, produces bile (aids in digesting fats)

What is the largest glandular organ?

liver

How much does the liver weigh?

3-4lbs

What is the purpose of the gallbladder?

storage house for bile and releases that bile when you eat a fatty food

A lot of times gallbladder issues will show up as pain somewhere else in the body, where is that?

shoulders

What is the purpose of the pancreas?

it has both endocrine (enzymes like tripson and lipase) and exocrine functions and it releases insulin

What is the pancreatic duct?

releases its substances into the small intestine

What are the left and right hepatic ducts?

bile drains out of these

What is the function of the digestive system?

breaks down food physically and chemically, prepares food for absorption by cells of the body, eliminates waste substances

What is the oral cavity and what is its function?

first part of the digestive tract (mouth and teeth), where the mechanical process of chewing and chemical breakdown of food by salivary secretions initiates the digestive process

What are the three parts of the small intestine, and the location of each?

Duodenum, first segment; jejunum, second segment; ileum, third segment

What are the first 4 sections of the colon?

ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid

Describe the shape, location, and function of the pancreas

elongated, flattened organ posterior and slightly inferior to the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and insulin

Describe the location and main function of the gallbladder

organ on the inferior surface of the liver that stores bile

Cf for esophagus

esophag/o

Cf for salivary glands

sial/o

Cf for pharynx

pharyng/o

Cf for stomach

gastr/o

Cf for pancreas

pancreat/o

Cf for spleen

splen/o

Cf for tongue

gloss/o, lingu/o

Cf for liver

hepat/o

Cf for ileum

ile/o

Cf for gallbladder

cholecyst/o

Cf for rectum

rect/o

Cf for anus

an/o

Cf for anus, rectum (when talking about procedures)

proct/o

Cf for duodenum

duoden/o

Cf for colon

col/o, colon/o

Cf for sigmoid colon

sigmoid/o

Cf for mouth

or/o, stomat/o

Cf for gum(s)

gingiv/o

Cf for bile, gall

chol/e

Cf for bile duct

choledoch/o

Discharge or flow through

diarrhea

without an appetite

anorexia

swallowing, eating (that is) painful or difficult

dysphagia

after a meal

post/prandial

pertaining to under or below the tongue

sub/lingu/al

visual examination within or in (an organ)

endo/scopy

vomiting blood

hemat/emesis

tumor of the pancreas

pancreat/oma

instrument for examining the stomach

gastr/o/scope

enlargement of the liver

hepat/o/megaly

disease of the intestine (usually the small intestine)

enter/o/pathy

inflammation of the gums

gingiv/itis

What is intussusception

telescoping of one portion of the intestine into another causing internal blockage, rare but serious condition most often occurring in infants and young children (portion of the intestine folds in on itself + causes blockage)

What is intussusception and how does it affect the intestines?

pieces of the intestine folds/slides in another part. causes blockage and can affect blood supply

What imaging test is commonly used to diagnose intussusception?

abdominal ultrasound

What nonsurgical procedure can often treat intussusception?

contrast enema

When would surgery be required to treat intussusception?

if enema doesn’t do its job or it the intestine isn’t working properly/damaged

What is appendicitis?

inflammation of the appendix; usually results from obstruction or infection caused by a fecalith (fecal matter that is stone like and gets stuck in the intestines), foreign body, or bacteria

What are some later signs and symptoms of appendicitis?

fever, malaise, diarrhea, or constipation, and tachycardia

What is the treatment for appendicitis?

appendectomy (surgery within 48 hours of first symptoms to avoid delay, which could result in rupture and peritonitis as fecal matter is released into the peritoneal cavity

Mr. Q. presents to the ED with RLQ pain, a rigid abdomen with increased tenderness, and abdominal cramping. The physician confirms inflammation of the appendix. His diagnosis is

appendicitis

Mr. R., a smoker and heavy drinker, complains of dysphagia for the past 4 months. After various tests, he is diagnosed with cancer of the (esophagus, duodenum, stomach).

esophagus

The abbreviation RLQ indicates that the patient’s pain is

located in the

right lower quadrant

The physician informs Ms. J. that her appendicitis may be

the result of an obstruction or infection caused by a hard

mass of fecal matter. This type of mass is diagnosed as a

fecalith

What is diverticulitis?

acute inflammation of diverticulae

What is diverticulosis?

presence of diverticulae without inflammation

What are signs and symptoms of diverticulitis?

bowel changes, possibly alternating between constipation and diarrhea; tenderness and pain in LLQ of abdomen; possible bleeding as condition worsens, along with weakness, fever, fatigue, and anemia

What is the treatment for diverticulitis?

focuses on clearing up inflammation and infection, resting the colon, and preventing or minimizing complications; hospital stays required for severe cases with acute pain and complications; IV antibiotics and a few days without food or drink to help the colon rest; colon resection required for some cases, with a temporary colostomy while the colon heals

Ms. O.’s radiograph shows pouchlike herniations

through the muscular layer of her colon. These

small, blisterlike pockets are diagnosed as

(diverticulae, diverticulitis, diverticuloma).

diverticulae

The nurse charts Mr. J.’s complaint of extreme

constipation as (diarrhea, obstipation, colopathy).

obstipation

Mr. F. is diagnosed with a severe case of diverticulitis. His

symptoms include LLQ tenderness and pain. LLQ means

that the pain is located in the of his

abdomen.

left lower quadrant

What is cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis?

formation of pressure of gallstones within the gallbladder or bile ducts

What is the signs and symptoms of Cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis

classic “attack” called biliary colic, from bile duct obstruction; acute onset of URQ abdominal pian that radiates to the shoulder and back; possible nausea and vomiting, typically following ingestion of large or fatty meals (BIG SIGN)

What is the non surgical treatment for Cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis

if asymptomatic, unless symptoms reappear or there is a history of previous gallstones with complications: extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy; dissolution of cholesterol-based stones through bile acid therapy

What is the surgical treatment for Cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis

laparoscopic cholecystectomy a minimally invasive procedure (most common procedure performed, laparoscope inserted through several small incisions in the abdomen, with patient usually discharged within 24 hours or less), choledocholithotomy (incision into the common bile duct to remove the stones)

Ms. G. presents with an acute onset of URQ abdominal

pain that radiates to the shoulder and back, and she

complains of nausea and vomiting. The physician

suspects gallstone formation in the gallbladder and

orders several diagnostic tests to confirm his evaluation.

The tests confirm a diagnosis of (cholecystolithiasis,

cholecystotomy, choledocholith).

cholecystolithiasis

The physician explains that removal of the gallbladder is

the treatment of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis.

The procedure for excision of the gallbladder is

cholecystectomy

Mr. F. is scheduled for ultrasound treatment to pulverize

his gallstones. This nonsurgical procedure, abbreviated

ESWL, is called

extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy

anastomosis

connection between two vessels; surgical

joining of two ducts, blood vessels, or bowel segments to

allow flow from one to the other

ascites

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal

cavity

borborygmus

audible abdominal sound caused by

passage of gas through the liquid contents of the

intestine

cachexia

state of ill-health, malnutrition, and wasting

that may occur in many chronic diseases, malignancies,

and infections

dysentery

diarrhea containing blood and mucus,

resulting from inflammation of the walls of the

gastrointestinal tract, especially the colon

volvulus

twisting of the bowel on itself, causing

obstruction

What is bariatric surgery?

surgical alteration of the stomach as a treatment for morbid obesity; arises from severe accumulation of excess weight as fatty tissue, resulting in health problems

What is a colostomy

excision of a diseased part of the colon and creation of a new opening in the abdominal wall, where fecal flow is diverted to a colostomy bag; permanent or temporary; performed as treatment for cancer or diverticulitis

What is a polypectomy

excision of small, tumorlike, benign growths (polyps) that project from a mucous membrane surface

Ms. K is diagnosed with colorectal CA. The surgeon will

create an opening in the colon through the abdominal

wall to the outside surface. This enables diversion of

fecal matter into an attached pouch. The surgical

procedure to create an opening (mouth) of the colon is

called a

colostomy

The physician discovers polyps during a colonoscopy. He

performs what procedure to remove the polyps?

polypectomy

The nurse explains that surgical procedures are available

to treat morbid obesity. The surgical procedure that

treats morbid obesity is called _________ surgery

bariatric

The physician explains a surgical procedure to treat

morbid obesity in which he staples the upper stomach

near the esophagus to reduce it to a small pouch and

inserts a band to restrict food consumption. This

bariatric procedure is known as vertical

banded gastroplasty