Chapter 9: Digestive System

abdomin/o

abdomen, abdominal

an/o

anus

appendic/o

appendix

-ase

enzyme

bil/i

bile

bilirubin/o

bile pigment

bucc/o

cheek

cec/o

cecum

-cele

hernia

celi/o

abdomen

-chezia

defecation

cheil/o

lip

chole/o

gall/bile

choleangio/o

bile duct

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

choledoch/o

common bile duct

col/o, colon/o

large intestine, colon

dent/i, dent/o, odont/o

teeth

dia-

through, throughout, completely

diverticul/o

diverticulum

duoden/o

duodenum

-ectasia, -ectasis

dilation, expansion, distension

emesis

vomiting

end/o, ent/o

within, inner, containing

enter/o

small intestine

esophag/o

esophagus

gastr/o

stomach

gingiv/o

gingivae, gums of the mouth

gloss/o

tongue

hepat/o

liver

herni/o

hernia, rupture, protrusion of part of a structure through the tissues containing it

ile/o

ileum

jejun/o

jejunum

labi/o

lips

lapar/o

abdominal wall

lingu/o

tongue

lith/o

stone

-lysis

separation, loosening, dissolving, destruction

or/o

mouth

-ostomy, -stomy

artificial or surgical creation of an opening

pancreat/o

pancreas

-pepsia

digestion

peritone/o

peritoneum

-phagia

eating, swallowing

-plasty

plastic repair, plastic surgery, reconstruction

polyp/o

polyp

proct/o

rectum

pylor/o

pylorus

rect/o

rectum

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-scope, -scopy

action involving the use of an instrument for viewing

sial/o

saliva, salivary gland, salivary duct

sialaden/o

salivary gland

sigmoid/o

sigmoid colon

splen/o

spleen

stomat/o

mouth

-tomy

incision into, cutting

uvul/o

uvula

viscer/o

internal organs

Mastication

Chewing of food (mechanical digestion)

Peristalsis

The contraction of smooth muscle fibers in circular and longitudinal directions that enables food to move through the hollow organs of the digestive tract

Incisors

Teeth in front of the mouth shaped like chisels, useful for biting off large pieces of food (eight total, four top and four bottom)

Cuspids

The pointy teeth immediately behind the incisors, also called canines, used for grasping or tearing food (four total)

Molars

The flattened teeth used for grinding food, located farthest back in the mouth

Cleft lip and/or palate

Congenital conditions resulting from abnormal facial development during gestation, appearing as a fissure, opening, or gap forming a deformity corrected by surgery

Nasopharynx

The superior region of the pharynx located behind the nasal cavity

Oropharynx

The middle region of the pharynx located just behind the mouth

Laryngopharynx

The inferior region of the pharynx located behind the larynx

Palatine tonsils

Lymphoid tissue found on each side of the soft palate in the oropharynx

Adenoids

Pharyngeal tonsils located in the nasopharynx

Lingual tonsils

Small masses of lymphoid tissue at the very back of the tongue

Dysphagia

A swallowing disorder causing impairment of the movement of solids or fluids from the mouth, down the throat, and into the stomach

Barrett's esophagus

An abnormal growth of stomach or intestinal cells at the distal end of the esophagus, often caused by chronic GERD, which can lead to lower esophageal cancer

Esophagitis

Inflammation of the lining of the esophagus, which can be caused by infection (Candida, monilia, yeast, thrush), herpes, or medications like NSAIDs/aspirin

Esophageal varices

Extremely dilated submucosal veins in the lower end of the esophagus, most often caused by portal hypertension and cirrhosis of the liver, with a strong tendency to bleed

Mallory-Weiss tear

A tear in the mucous membrane of the esophagus where it connects to the stomach, usually caused by forceful or long-term vomiting/coughing or epileptic convulsions

Chyme

The partially digested food paste that passes from the stomach into the duodenum

Four parts of the stomach

Cardia, fundus, body (corpus gastricum), and antrum (pylorus)

Gastritis

Acute or chronic inflammation of the stomach, commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, long-term NSAID use, or long-term alcohol use

Peptic ulcer disease

A sore or opening in the inner lining of the stomach or duodenum, most commonly caused by H. pylori infections and prolonged use of NSAIDs

Three sections of the small intestine

Duodenum (first portion, ~10 inches long), jejunum (middle third, ~7.5 feet long), and ileum (last and longest section, ~12 feet long)

Ampulla of Vater

Also known as the hepatopancreatic ampulla, the site where small ducts from the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder open into the duodenum

Four portions of the colon

Ascending (proceeds upward to the hepatic flexure), transverse (turns downward at the splenic flexure), descending, and sigmoid (or pelvic) colon

Crohn's disease

A chronic, inflammatory bowel disease that often leads to fibrosis and obstructive symptoms, typically involving the small bowel (especially terminal ileum) with symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea

Congenital megacolon

An abnormal dilation of the colon accompanied by a paralysis of the peristaltic movements of the bowel

Diverticulitis

Infection of the diverticular pockets caused by bacteria in the colon, resulting in left lower abdomen pain, tenderness, fever, bleeding, or perforation

Diverticulosis

The presence of pockets or projections (diverticula) extending from the walls of the colon, occurring most frequently in the sigmoid colon

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

A functional bowel disorder where the colon does not contract normally, but in a disorganized, violent manner, leading to contractions that can be exaggerated, sustained, or have little activity

Meckel's diverticulum

A congenital condition where a diverticulum pocket containing gastric or pancreatic tissue remains as a remnant of connection from the yolk sac to the small intestine

Ulcerative colitis

A chronic inflammatory disorder limited to the colon that causes inflammation and sores in the lining of the rectum and colon, killing cells and producing pus and frequent diarrhea

Hemorrhoids

Dilated or enlarged varicose veins occurring in and around the anus and rectum, which can be external or internal and may be complicated by thrombosis, strangulation, prolapse, and ulceration

Rectal prolapse

A condition where the mucous membrane lining the anal canal (partial) or the full thickness of the bowel wall (complete) protrudes through the anus

Anal fissures and fistulas

Fissures are tears in the mucosa and skin of the anal canal; fistulas are tiny channels or tracts that develop due to infection, inflammation, or abscess and open to the skin, rectum, bladder, or vagina

Direct inguinal hernia

Groin hernia arising because of the weakening of the abdominal wall, common in older adults

Indirect inguinal hernia

Groin hernia resulting from protrusion through the Internal Inguinal ring, often congenital, occurring at any age

Hiatal hernia

Anatomical abnormality where the stomach protrudes or herniates through the opening of the diaphragm and up into the chest

Liver functions & regeneration

Produces bile salts to emulsify fats, converts excess ammonia into urea, and stores glucose as glycogen; it is the only human organ able to regenerate itself completely within six weeks

Pancreas parts & endocrine role

Comprises the head, neck, body, tail, and uncinate process; contains beta cells of the islets of Langerhans that produce insulin to absorb sugar into the bloodstream