Digestive System Terminology

Medical TerminologyMedical Terminology
Copyright ©2011 All rights reserved.Florida State College of Jacksonville | Professor: Michael L. Whitchurch, MHS
Digestive System
Gastroenterology

Learning Objectives
1. Identify the structures of the gastrointestinal system.
2. Describe the process of digestion.
3. Describe common gastrointestinal diseases and conditions,
laboratory and diagnostic procedures, medical and surgical
procedures, and drug categories.
4. Give the medical meaning of word parts related to the
gastrointestinal system.
5. Build gastrointestinal words from word parts and divide and
define gastrointestinal words.
6. Spell and pronounce gastrointestinal words.
7. Analyze the medical content and meaning of a
gastroenterology report.

Gastroenterology
• The medical specialty that studies the anatomy and
physiology of the gastrointestinal system and uses
• diagnostic tests
• medical and surgical procedures and
• drugs to treat gastrointestinal diseases

Anatomy and Physiology
• Gastrointestinal System
– Begins at the mouth, continues through the
thoracic cavity, and fills most of the abdominal
cavity
– Upper gastrointestinal system includes the
 Structures from the mouth through the stomach
– Lower gastrointestinal system includes the
 Small and large intestines
– Purpose is to
 digest food
 absorb nutrients and …
 remove undigested material (waste) from the body

Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal System
• Begins here… the Oral Cavity

• Oral Cavity and Pharynx
– Begins in the mouth, or
oral cavity
– Oral cavity contains the
teeth; tongue; hard palate;
and soft palate with its
fleshy, hanging uvula.
– Receptors on the tongue
perceive taste and send
this information to the
gustatory cortex in the
brain.

Oral cavity terms

– Lined with mucosa, a mucous membrane
that produces thin mucus.
– The sight, smell, and taste of food cause the
salivary glands to release saliva into the
mouth; this moistens foods as they are
chewed and swallowed.
– Saliva also contains an enzyme that begins
the process of digestion.

– There are three pairs of salivary glands:
the parotid glands, the sublingual glands,
and the submandibular glands.
– The teeth tear, chew, and grind the food
during the process of mastication.
– The tongue moves food toward the teeth
and mixes food with saliva.

Figure 3-3 Salivary glands

– Swallowing or deglutition
moves food into the throat or
pharynx.
– When food is swallowed, the
epiglottis closes the entrance
to the larynx, so that food in
the back of the throat, pressing
on the uvula, does not initiate
the gag reflex.

Epiglottis
epiglottis

Figure 3-2 Oral cavity and pharynx

• Esophagus
– A flexible, muscular tube that
connects the pharynx to the
stomach.
– Lined with mucosa that
produces mucus.
– By coordinated muscle
contractions of the esophageal
wall begin the process of
peristalsis moving food toward
the stomach.

• Stomach
– A large, elongated sac in the
upper abdominal cavity that
receives food from the
esophagus.
– Divided into four areas: the
cardia, fundus, body, and pylorus.
– The gastric mucosa is arranged in
thick, deep folds known as rugae
which expand as the stomach fills
with food.

• Stomach
– The mucosa produces mucus
that protects the lining of the
stomach from the acid the
stomach produces.
– Two sphincters (muscular rings)
keep food in the stomach.
– The lower esophageal sphincter
is located in the distal
esophagus.

• Stomach
– The pyloric sphincter is located in
the distal end of the stomach.
– Chyme is a semisolid mixture of
partially digested food, saliva, and
digestive juices in the stomach.

Figure 3-4 Stomach

• Small Intestine
– The small intestine is a
long, hollow tube that
receives chyme from the
stomach.
– It is divided into three parts:
 duodenum
 jejunum
 and ileum

Figure 3-5 Small and large intestines

• Large Intestine
– A larger, hollow tube that receives
undigested material and water
from the small intestine.
– Consists of the
 cecum
 colon
 rectum
 and anus
– The walls contain haustra
(puckered pouches) that can
greatly expand, as needed.

• Large Intestine
– Waves of peristalsis slowly move
undigested material through the
large intestine as water is
absorbed through the intestinal
wall and into the blood.
– The colon is the longest part.
 It travels through all four quadrants
of the abdomen as the
• ascending colon
• transverse colon
• descending colon and
• sigmoid colon

• Large Intestine
– The sigmoid colon bends toward
the midline in an S-shaped curve
that joins the rectum.
– The rectum is a short, straight
segment that connects to the
outside of the body.
– The anus, the external opening of
the rectum, is located between the
buttocks.
– The anal sphincter is a muscular
ring whose opening and closing
is under conscious, voluntary
control.

• Abdomen and Abdominopelvic Cavity
– The peritoneum extends into the center of
the abdominopelvic cavity as the
omentum.
– The omentum supports the stomach and
hangs down as a fatty apron to cover and
protect the small intestine.
– The peritoneum also extends as the
mesentery, a thick, fan-shaped sheet that
supports the jejunum and ileum.

• Abdomen and Abdominopelvic Cavity
– Contains the largest organs of the gastrointestinal system.
– The walls of the abdominopelvic cavity are lined by peritoneum,
a membrane that secretes peritoneal fluid.
– This watery fluid fills the spaces between the organs and allows
them to slide past each other during the movements of digestion.

• The blood supply to the
stomach, small intestine,
liver, gallbladder, and
pancreas comes from the
celiac trunk of the aorta, the
largest artery in the body.

• Liver
– The liver is the largest solid organ
in the body, located in the upper
right abdominal cavity.
– An accessory organ of digestion
that contributes to, but is not
physically involved in, the process
of digestion.
– Liver cells (hepatocytes)
continuously produce bile, a
yellow-green, bitter-tasting, thick
fluid.

• Liver
– Bile produced by the liver flows
through the hepatic ducts, through
the common hepatic duct, and then
into either the cystic duct to the
gallbladder or the common bile
duct.
– All of the ducts that carry bile are
collectively known as the biliary
tree.

Figure 3-6 Biliary tree

• Gallbladder
posterior to the liver.
– Concentrates and stores bile from
the liver.
– The presence of fatty chyme in the
duodenum causes the gallbladder
to contract, sending bile into the
common bile duct and duodenum
to digest fats.

• Pancreas
posterior to the stomach.
– Presence of food in the
duodenum causes the pancreas
to secrete digestive enzymes into
the pancreatic duct to the
duodenum.
– Also functions as an organ of the
endocrine system.

Physiology of Digestion
• There are two parts to digestion:
– Mechanical
– Chemical
• Mechanical digestion uses
mastication, deglutition, and
peristalsis to break down foods.
• Mechanical digestion also involves
breaking apart fats in the
duodenum.

• Fatty chyme stimulates the
duodenum to secrete the hormone
cholecystokinin, which stimulates
the gallbladder to contract and
release bile.
• Bile breaks apart large globules of
fat during the process of
emulsification.
• Chemical digestion uses enzymes
and acid to break down foods.

• The enzyme amylase in saliva
begins to break down carbohydrate
foods in the mouth.
• The stomach secretes the following
substances that continue the
process of chemical digestion:
– Hydrochloric acid
– Pepsinogen
– Gastrin

• The stomach secretes a
substance known as intrinsic
factor, which helps vitamin B12 be
absorbed from the intestine into
the blood.
• When the stomach does not
produce enough intrinsic factor,
vitamin B12 is not absorbed.

• Chemical digestion is completed in
the small intestine.
• Cholecystokinin stimulates the
pancreas to secrete four digestive
enzymes into the duodenum:
– Amylase
– Lipase
– Other enzymes that break down proteins

• The villi of the small intestine produce the digestive
enzymes such as lactase to break down sugars.
Your small intestine is lined with tiny hair-like projections called villi, which work to
absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food you eat… Mayo Clinic

Intestinal Villi

• Absorption of nutrients and water
through the intestinal wall into the
blood takes place mainly in the
duodenum and jejunum.
• Absorption of water continues in the
large intestine.
• Absorbed nutrients are carried by
blood in the portal vein to the liver.

• The liver plays an important role in
regulating nutrients such as glucose
and amino acids.
• Excess glucose in the blood is
stored in the liver as glycogen and
released when the blood glucose level
is low.
• The liver uses amino acids to build
plasma proteins and clotting factors
for the blood.

• Elimination occurs when
undigested materials and
water are eliminated from the
body in a solid waste form of
feces or stool.
• The process of elimination is
a bowel movement or
defecation.

Figure 3-7 Gastrointestinal system.
(Robert W. Ginn/PhotoEdit Inc.)

Diseases and Conditions
• Eating
– Anorexia
– Dysphagia
– Polyphagia

• Mouth and Lips
– Cheilitis
– Sialolithiasis
– Stomatitis
– Glossitis
Figure 3-8 Glossitis
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]

Figure 3-8 Glossitis
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC])

• Esophagus and Stomach
– Dyspepsia
– Esophageal varices
– Gastritis
– Gastroenteritis
– Gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD)

Figure 3-9 Esophageal varix
(David M. Martin, M.D./Photo Researchers, Inc.)

• Esophagus and Stomach
– Heartburn
– Hematemesis
– Nausea and vomiting (N&V)
– Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)
– Stomach cancer

Gastric Ulcer
Figure 8.11B – Photomicrograph of a gastric ulcer.
(Dr. E. Walker/Science Photo Library/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

Figure 3-10 Gastric ulcer

Diseases and Conditions (con't)
• Duodenum, Jejunum, Ileum
– Ileus
– Intussusception
– Volvulus

Volvus

Intussusception

• Cecum and Colon
– Appendicitis
– Colic
– Colon cancer
– Diverticulum
– Dysentery
Figure 3-12 Diverticula

Diverticulum

Figure 3-13 Diverticulitis and polyposis

Colon polyp
Photograph showing a polyp in the colon.
(ISM/Phototake NYC)

• Cecum and Colon
– Gluten enteropathy
– Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
– Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
– Polyp
Figure 3-15 Colonic polyps
(Staats/Custom Medical Stock Photo, Inc.)

Figure 3-14 Crohn’s disease

Figure 3-15 Colonic polyps
(Staats/Custom Medical Stock Photo, Inc.)

• Rectum and Anus
– Hemorrhoids
– Proctitis
– Rectocele
• Defecation and Feces
– Constipation
– Diarrhea
– Flatulence
– Hematochezia
– Incontinence
– Steatorrhea

• Abdominal Wall and Abdominal Cavity
– Adhesions
– Hernia
– Peritonitis
Figure 3-17 Peritonitis
(Custom Medical Stock Photo, Inc.)

Figure 3-16 Hernia
(From Rudolph, A.M., Hoffman, J.I.E., & Rudolph, C.D. (Eds.) 1991. Rudolph’s Pediatrics. (19th ed., p. 1040))

Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal Hernia: protrusion of stomach
through diaphragm into thoracic cavity; also
called diaphragmatocele

Inguinal Hernia
A protrusion of a loop of bowel
through abdominal muscle and
into groin region; may become
incarcerated or strangulated if
muscle pinches the loop of
bowel

• Liver
– Ascites
– Cirrhosis
– Hepatitis
Figure 3-18 Fatty liver disease and cirrhosis of the
liver
(Arthur Glauberman/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

• Hepatitis is the most common chronic liver disease.
– Hepatitis A (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-a/DS00397)
– Hepatitis B (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-b/DS00398)
– Hepatitis C (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-c/DS00097 )
– Hepatitis D secondary infection from mutated virus only in those with B
– Hepatitis E similar to B

• Hepatitis A is an acute but short-lived infection
caused by exposure to water or food that is
contaminated with feces from a person who is
infected with the hepatitis A virus (HAV).

• Hepatitis B is an acute infection caused
by exposure to the blood of a person
who is already infected with the hepatitis
B virus (HBV); it is also known as serum
hepatitis.
• It is also spread during sexual activity by
contact with saliva and vaginal
secretions.
• An infected mother can pass hepatitis B
to her fetus before birth or when
breastfeeding.

• Hepatitis C is an acute infection caused by
exposure to the blood of a person who is
already infected with the hepatitis C virus
(HCV).
• Hepatitis C is not readily transmitted by
sexual activity or from a mother to her
fetus.
• Chronic hepatitis C is the main cause of
chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver
cancer.

• Hepatitis D is a secondary
infection caused by a mutated
(changed) hepatitis virus.
• Hepatitis D only develops in
patients who already have
hepatitis B; it is also known as
delta hepatitis.
• Hepatitis E is similar to
hepatitis A but rarely occurs in
the United States.

• Hepatomegaly
• Jaundice
• Liver Cancer
Figure 3-20 Jaundice
(Dr. M.A. Ansary/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

Figure 3-21 Liver cancer
(Gca/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

• Gallbladder and Bile Ducts
– Cholangitis
– Cholecystitis
– Cholelithiasis
Figure 3-22 Cholelithiasis
Figure 3-23 Gallstones in the biliary and
pancreatic ducts

Diseases and Conditions (con't)
• Pancreas
– Pancreatic cancer
– Pancreatitis

Laboratory and Diagnostic Procedures
• Blood Tests
– Albumin
– Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
– ALT and AST
– Bilirubin
– GGT
– Liver function tests (LFTs)
• Gastric and Feces Specimen Tests
– CLO test
– Culture and sensitivity (C&S)
– Fecal occult blood test
– Gastric analysis
– Ova and parasites (O&P)

• Radiologic Procedures
– Barium enema
– Cholangiography
Figure 3-24 Barium enema

Barium enema
Figure 8.18 – Color enhanced X-ray of the colon taken during a barium enema.
(CNRI/Science Photo Library/Photo Researchers, Inc.)
Can you recognize and
name the structures in
the image ?

– Computerized axial tomography (CAT, CT scan)
– Flat plate of the abdomen
– Gallbladder ultrasound

– Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
– Oral cholecystography (OCG)
Oral cholecystogram Penn Medicine
http://www.pennmedicine.org/encyclopedia/em_PrintArticle.aspx?gcid=003821&ptid=1
Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI

– Upper gastrointestinal series (UGI)

Medical and Surgical Procedures
• Medical Procedures
– Insertion of nasogastric tube
Figure 3-26 Nasogastric tube
(Pearson Education/PH College)

• Surgical Procedures
– Abdominocentesis
– Appendectomy
– Biopsy
– Bowel resection and anastomosis
– Cholecystectomy
– Choledocholithotomy
Figure 3-27 Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
(Geoff Tompkinson/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

– Colostomy
– Endoscopy
– Exploratory laparotomy
Figure 3-28 Colostomy and stoma (Pearson Education/PH College)

Medical and Surgical Procedures (con't)
• Endoscopic Procedures
– Esophagoscopy
– Gastroscopy
– Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
– Sigmoidoscopy
– Colonoscopy
Endoscopic procedures http://www.northshore.org/gastroenterology/advanced-therapeutic-endoscopy-program/about-endoscopy/

Figure 3-25 Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Figure 3-29 Colonoscopy
(BSIP/Phototake NYC)
Sigmoidoscopy

– Gastrectomy
– Gastroplasty
– Gastrostomy
– Hemorrhoidectomy
Figure 3-30 PEG tube - percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

– Herniorrhaphy
– Jejunostomy
– Liver transplantation
– Polypectomy
Medline Plus Liver Transplant: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003006.htm

Drug Categories
• These categories of drugs are used to treat
gastrointestinal diseases and conditions:
– Antacid drugs
– Antibiotic drugs
– Antidiarrheal drugs
– Antiemetic drugs
– H2 blocker drugs
– Laxative drugs
– Proton pump inhibitor drugs

Abbreviations

Digestive System Terminology

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