Gastroenterology Medical Language Flashcards

Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal System

  • Upper GI Tract:

    • Oral Cavity & Pharynx: Contains teeth, gums, tongue (gustatory cortex), hard/soft palates, uvula, and three pairs of salivary glands (parotid, sublingual, submandibular). Pharynx consists of nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. Epiglottis closes over the larynx during swallowing.
    • Esophagus: Muscular tube connecting pharynx to stomach; uses peristalsis to move food.
    • Stomach: Elongated sac divided into cardia, fundus, body, and pylorus. Contains mucosal folds (rugae) and two sphincters: lower esophageal sphincter and pyloric sphincter. Food mixes with secretions to form chyme.

  • Lower GI Tract:

    • Small Intestine: Long tube with villi to maximize absorption. Segments include duodenum (~10 inches), jejunum (~8 feet), and ileum (~12 feet).
    • Large Intestine: Extends from small intestine to anus. Segments include cecum (with attached appendix and ileocecal valve), colon (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid; features haustra pouches), rectum, and anus (with voluntary anal sphincter).

  • Abdominopelvic Cavity & Accessory Organs:

    • Peritoneum: Lines cavity and secretes fluid; forms omentum (supports stomach) and mesentery (supports jejunum and ileum).
    • Liver: Produces bile (containing acids, bilirubin, biliverdin) which travels through the biliary tree.
    • Gallbladder: Stores and concentrates bile; contracts to release bile into the common bile duct (CBD).
    • Pancreas: Secretes digestive enzymes into duodenum via pancreatic duct; secretes insulin into blood.

Physiology of Digestion

  • Mechanical Digestion: Includes physical movement via mastication (chewing), deglutition (swallowing), and peristalsis (wave-like contractions).
  • Chemical Digestion: Uses enzymes and secretions:
    • Saliva: Amylase breaks down carbohydrates.
    • Stomach: Hydrochloric acid (converts pepsinogen to pepsin), pepsin (digests proteins), gastrin (stimulates acid release), and intrinsic factor (aids vitamin B12B_{12} absorption).
    • Duodenum & Jejunum: Cholecystokinin (CCK) triggers gallbladder bile release for emulsification of fats; lactase digests milk sugars into glucose; pancreatic enzymes (amylase, lipase, protein-digesting enzymes) break down nutrients.
  • Absorption & Elimination:
    • Water/fluids absorbed under tongue, in stomach, and in large intestine; nutrient absorption occurs primarily in the ileum.
    • Undigested material is eliminated as feces/stool via defecation; flatus is accompanying gas.

Gastrointestinal Pathologies & Diseases

  • Eating & Oral Cavity Disorders:
    • Anorexia (decreased appetite), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), polyphagia (overeating).
    • Glossitis (tongue inflammation), sialolithiasis (salivary gland stone).
  • Esophagus & Stomach Diseases:
    • Dyspepsia (indigestion), esophageal varices (swollen esophageal veins), gastritis, gastroenteritis.
    • GERD (chronic reflux of stomach acid), heartburn, hematemesis (vomiting blood), nausea and vomiting (N&V).
    • Peptic ulcer disease (PUD), stomach cancer (adenocarcinoma, often linked to H. pylori).
  • Intestinal & Colonic Diseases:
    • Ileus (absence of peristalsis), intussusception (telescoping of intestine), volvulus (twisting of intestine).
    • Appendicitis, colon cancer, diverticulum/diverticulitis, gluten sensitivity enteropathy.
    • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD: Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), polyposis (mucosal polyps).
  • Rectal, Defecation & Abdominal Wall Disorders:
    • Hemorrhoids, proctitis, rectocele.
    • Constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, hematochezia (bright red stool), melena (dark tarry stool), steatorrhea (fatty stool).
    • Hernias: Classified by movement (sliding/reducible, incarcerated, strangulated) and location (hiatal, ventral, umbilical, omphalocele, inguinal, incisional).
    • Peritonitis (inflammation/infection of peritoneum following perforation/rupture).
  • Hepatic, Biliary & Pancreatic Diseases:
    • Ascites, cirrhosis, hepatomegaly, hepatitis (types A, B, C, D), jaundice (scleral icterus), liver cancer (hepatoma/hepatocellular carcinoma).
    • Cholangitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis (gallstones), gallbladder cancer.
    • Pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer.

Diagnostic Tests & Procedures

  • Laboratory Tests:
    • Serum/Blood: Albumin level, liver function tests (LFTs: Albumin, Bilirubin, ALP, ALT, AST, GGT, Prothrombin time).
    • Stool Tests: Cologuard®, culture and sensitivity (C&S), fecal occult blood test, ova and parasites (O&P), H. pylori stool antigen/PCR tests.
    • Specialized Tests: H. pylori tests (CIM, CLO biopsy, Urea breath test [UBT]).
  • Radiologic & Nuclear Procedures:
    • Barium enema (BE), upper gastrointestinal series (UGI).
    • Cholangiography (IVC, PTC, ERCP), cholescintigraphy (nuclear bile tracing).
    • Computed tomography (CT/CAT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), flat plate of abdomen, gallbladder ultrasound, oral cholecystography (OCG).

Interventions & Treatments

  • Medical Procedures: Enema, nasogastric (NG) tube insertion.
  • Pharmacology:
    • Antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid regulation.
    • Antibiotics/anti-infectives, antidiarrheals, antiemetics, antispasmodics, laxatives, bile acid drugs.
  • Surgical Procedures:
    • Abdominocentesis, biopsy, exploratory laparotomy.
    • Resection & Reconstruction: Bowel resection and anastomosis, colostomy, gastrostomy (PEG), jejunostomy (PEJ).
    • Excision & Removal: Appendectomy, cholecystectomy, choledocholithotomy, gastrectomy, hemorrhoidectomy, liver transplantation, polypectomy.
    • Repair & Endoscopy: Bariatric surgery (gastric balloon, band, sleeve/gastroplasty), endoscopy/colonoscopy, herniorrhaphy.